[chncar]

All,

Need your advice. My Ritz Diesel was in the parking lot overnight when the parking lot got flooded, not severely but with about 1ft to 1.5 ft of water. The water subsided after about 24 hours.

Looking at the car:

• I think water covered the exhaust pipe, as that is placed quite low.
• There was no water in the boot
• There was no water that I could find in the seats
• The floor was wet on the driver's side, whereas the passenger side had about a 1 inch puddle of water
• I don't think that the water came up to the level of the top of the engine or the battery
• I DID NOT turn on the ignition so far
• Several other people in the parking lot with sedans/hatchbacks simply started up their cars raced the engine for a bit and drove away. I am not going to try that, but it gives me some reason for optimism.
• I did however turn on the headlights to check and they turned on.
• I am trying to reach a Maruti service center but none of them seem to be responding. Should I try the Maruti breakdown service?
• I unfortunately do not have photos of the car submerged as I was afraid to venture out into the water while the flooding occurred. Do you think that it would damage my insurance claims?
• What do you think the damages would be? Can water enter the engine through the exhaust with that level of flooding? So long as I don't turn on the ingition, would the engine be safe?

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

[chncar]

Originally Posted by chncar

All,

Need your advice. My Ritz Diesel was in the parking lot overnight when the parking lot got flooded, not severely but with about 1ft to 1.5 ft of water. The water subsided after about 24 hours.

Looking at the car:

• I think water covered the exhaust pipe, as that is placed quite low.
• There was no water in the boot
• There was no water that I could find in the seats
• The floor was wet on the driver's side, whereas the passenger side had about a 1 inch puddle of water
• I don't think that the water came up to the level of the top of the engine or the battery
• I DID NOT turn on the ignition so far
• Several other people in the parking lot with sedans/hatchbacks simply started up their cars raced the engine for a bit and drove away. I am not going to try that, but it gives me some reason for optimism.
• I did however turn on the headlights to check and they turned on.
• I am trying to reach a Maruti service center but none of them seem to be responding. Should I try the Maruti breakdown service?
• I unfortunately do not have photos of the car submerged as I was afraid to venture out into the water while the flooding occurred. Do you think that it would damage my insurance claims?
• What do you think the damages would be? Can water enter the engine through the exhaust with that level of flooding? So long as I don't turn on the ingition, would the engine be safe?

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Anybody? Would be great if someone could help with some advice.

[cyberwhizs]

This looks to be a doubtful case, open up the bonnet and check for muck atop the oil dipstick, check the level of oil. It should not have risen or appear to be diluted.

Not sure where the air intake on your car is located. It should be free of water.

If you are reasonably sure that water has not entered the engine you can attempt to start the engine. But the big question is how does one be "reasonably sure", something that is not quite possible sitting here in front of the computer.

The Authorized service centers are likely to be overflowing with cars so response in the aftermath of the deluge will be slow. You can try their break down service and take their opinion.

Your insurance claims should get processed even without photos - mine did.
And, I would not worry too much if the car has not been started and vehicle electrical components - ECU, relays, etc have not been submerged.

In all probability you can just fire up the engine and drive away. But that is a decision you need to take with inputs with someone on the ground.

[chncar]

Originally Posted by cyberwhizs

This looks to be a doubtful case, open up the bonnet and check for muck atop the oil dipstick, check the level of oil. It should not have risen or appear to be diluted.

Not sure where the air intake on your car is located. It should be free of water.

If you are reasonably sure that water has not entered the engine you can attempt to start the engine. But the big question is how does one be "reasonably sure", something that is not quite possible sitting here in front of the computer.

The Authorized service centers are likely to be overflowing with cars so response in the aftermath of the deluge will be slow. You can try their break down service and take their opinion.

Your insurance claims should get processed even without photos - mine did.
And, I would not worry too much if the car has not been started and vehicle electrical components - ECU, relays, etc have not been submerged.

In all probability you can just fire up the engine and drive away. But that is a decision you need to take with inputs with someone on the ground.

Thanks, I will try the breakdown service. I don't intend to start the engine, will try and get a mechanic to check it first.

Any idea where the ECU is located? Is it at the top portion of the engine, or somewhere down below?

[virage]

Originally Posted by chncar

All,

Need your advice. My Ritz Diesel was in the parking lot overnight when the parking lot got flooded, not severely but with about 1ft to 1.5 ft of water. The water subsided after about 24 hours.

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Check the air filter and oil dipstick, as long as there is no water in either of these place's the engine should be fine. I have seen an innova that was flooded up till the wheel arch being started up.

But I would suggest you try and get the car dried out as soon as possible.

[cyberwhizs]

Originally Posted by chncar

Thanks, I will try the breakdown service. I don't intend to start the engine, will try and get a mechanic to check it first.

Any idea where the ECU is located? Is it at the top portion of the engine, or somewhere down below?

I do not know the location in the Ritz, usually it is near the battery, at the higher level than most other things. Locate a black/silver flat box with a connector and a lot of wires coming out.

[batterylow]

Originally Posted by chncar

All,

Need your advice. My Ritz Diesel was in the parking lot overnight when the parking lot got flooded, not severely but with about 1ft to 1.5 ft of water. The water subsided after about 24 hours.
[*]I think water covered the exhaust pipe, as that is placed quite low.
.

Originally Posted by chncar

Any idea where the ECU is located? Is it at the top portion of the engine, or somewhere down below?

The water can get into the engine only if the level were as high as the exhaust valves. Moreover if the water level was not so high the catalytic converter and the exhaust would itself have stopped the flow. Have a look into the engine bay and you can judge for yourself how high the water level has risen.

The ECU is generally mounted as high as possible in the engine bay so you need not worry about that scenario. All said and done, I would say get the car checked by the professionals. And stay safe.

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by chncar

Any idea where the ECU is located? Is it at the top portion of the engine, or somewhere down below?

As other have suggested, check the air filter to get an idea.

If the water hasn't crossed the exhaust height then I see no issue with the internals or water ingress in the engine.

ECU location is above the battery. Look at the picture below. Apologies though as the picture of my Swift and IIRC the location in the Ritz too is same (Look at the yellow rectangle in the picture).

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by chncar

All,

Need your advice. My Ritz Diesel was in the parking lot overnight when the parking lot got flooded, not severely but with about 1ft to 1.5 ft of water. The water subsided after about 24 hours.

Maybe post pictures of the car if it has obvious marks of being under water; that'd make it easier for people here to advise.

Safest course: unless you need to use the car, wait for it to get professionally checked. In the meantime, do try to dry out the interiors; possibly remove the floors mats and carpet.

[Ananthang]

Dear Friends,

My father in laws Alto too got fully submerged. It is a 8+ Years old car and got affected in Flash floods like Virage's Verna near the CIT nagar area.

What should he do now. Should he call insurance? He dint take any photos as it was overnight and by the time he realized it was unsafe to wade into the waters.

We also know a local trust mechanic who can help us. I am sure he will go in for repairing the car as it would benefit all of us. But is it a good option, it is a old battered car.

My father in law is also in delicate financial situation. He has to fix the entire Ground floor of his house, clean and recover it, recently got his other daughter married with a personal loan. So please help with your suggestions. He doesnt use the car daily but it is a good to have.

[anandtheleo]

The pics will do the talking. Water entered the car till the rooflines. I had closed the exhaust and the air intake, but stupidly forgot to remove the battery terminals. The driver side power had opened automatically and headlights and blinkers were flashing away till battery was dead.

[Rahul Rao]

Originally Posted by anandtheleo

The driver side power had opened automatically and headlights and blinkers were flashing away till battery was dead.

Is that so, this was to be a safety feature added after the 2005 Mumbai floods, where many people trapped in their cars could not open doors after car was submerged, and suffocated to death.

Rahul

[prithm]

Originally Posted by Rahul Rao

Is that so, this was to be a safety feature added after the 2005 Mumbai floods, where many people trapped in their cars could not open doors after car was submerged, and suffocated to death.

Rahul

Yes. It happens during shortening of circuit where battery is still pumping energy. Infact the alarm system is the first to give way and then the internal circuits. The only option is to get the battery disconnected and stored away from car and rest of things will work after car is bone dried.

[libranof1987]

Originally Posted by Ananthang

Dear Friends,

My father in laws Alto too got fully submerged. It is a 8+ Years old car and got affected in Flash floods like Virage's Verna near the CIT nagar area.

What should he do now. Should he call insurance? He dint take any photos as it was overnight and by the time he realized it was unsafe to wade into the waters.

I'd suggest you talk to the Insurance provider first and get their estimate. Their evaluation will tell you if it is a total loss or repairable. If it is repairable, you could consider getting it repaired from your mechanic. But do consider all the costs associated: not just mechanical but also misc things like seat covers etc. Going for total loss might work out better.

[manishkapadia]

I had my car submerged in the Mumbai floods of 2005. To be honest there is no easy way out of these things . Yes, you need to claim insurance but its a long and extensive repair to get the car back to roadworthy shape. In all likelihood the ECU would have conked off plus a lot of mechanical parts would need to be attended to. If I remember correctly my bill had come to about 1 lac out of which 80,000 was paid by insurance and the car was out of service for 30-45 days. It was a Hyundai accent.

Do not try to start the car. It would not work anyway. It WILL need repair at the Authorised garage. Best bet is to get it towed at to the Authorised workshop. Do not use FNG if your cars are relatively new. Manufacturers will give you some discounted parts in cases like these.