Hydrolocked Engine!! Not anymore!

James Breadvan · Post by **James Breadvan** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:38 pm

My engine now has no moving parts after hitting a small river on the A419 near Swindon last night. Bloody roads were dry all the way from Norwich and the first puddle I saw I hit!

I pulled the plugs out to turn the engine over to try and get the water out but nothing, the rods or something have bent and seized the engine. This is at the limit of my motoring knowledge, so once the engine is out can just the pistons and rods be replaced or will a whole rebuild be needed(I hope not)?

Also the AA are bloody crap, they couldn't get out to me for 5 hours last night so had to call family out with some tools. Plus they cant relay the car back to Norwich anytime soon so I've got to make my own way back on public transport :x

gary@apt · Post by **gary@apt** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:01 pm

james id say may be your best plan is to go for a second hand engine as even with new rods and pistons id be concerned about the crank.

if you need some advice i can pm you my number.....

Gerry H · Post by **Gerry H** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 7:45 pm

Just how deep was that puddle?

IWANT1 · Post by **IWANT1** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:07 pm

How have u attempted to turn it over? have you looked down the bores?

Rod and piston replacement is a rebuild!!

That bad luck fella where is the intake located on a civic must be pretty low

jazzymonkey · Post by **jazzymonkey** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:13 pm

Sorry to hear about your troubles james. My friend recently had the same trouble in her Alfa 156. She went through some standing water the rac came out and couldnt get her going so they towed her home, he tried getting the water out of the engine by rocking the car back and forward in gear, he also towed her around to shift the water!!!!!! The RAC left the plugs to give the cylinders a chance to dry out. I went round to try and start it, wouldnt even turn over. I took minimal tools, i tried to jump start it no joy. Called the RAC again, first they said starter motor buggered and then it was the engine siezed. He left, anyone who used to have a moped and siezed it might know the coke trick, pour some coke into the cylinder wait 10 to 15 minutes, rock it backward and forward in gear and hey presto - unsiezed!
Anyway, there was still water in the cylinders so i went to wilco, bought a battery fluid checker (turkey baster) and some windscreen washer hose and a hose joiner, sucked all the water out using this improvised tool. It did work a treat! Poured some Coke into each cylinder and waited 15 minutes put the car in 5th gear and rocked it back and forth, hey presto ONE UNSIEZED ENGINE! - tuned the key and she coughed and spluttered and started, revved nicely but sounded like the RAC man had left several tools in the cam covers. Got the bugger started but the engine was buggered! The car is now with the insurers.

James, check your insurance. Luckily my friend was covered!

If you are not covered buy some CokaCola.

Sorry if i have rambled a bit, had a few glasses of wine.
JM

Asty · Post by **Asty** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:25 pm

jazzymonkey wrote:Sorry to hear about your troubles james. My friend recently had the same trouble in her Alfa 156. She went through some standing water the rac came out and couldnt get her going so they towed her home, he tried getting the water out of the engine by rocking the car back and forward in gear, he also towed her around to shift the water!!!!!! The RAC left the plugs to give the cylinders a chance to dry out. I went round to try and start it, wouldnt even turn over. I took minimal tools, i tried to jump start it no joy. Called the RAC again, first they said starter motor buggered and then it was the engine siezed. He left, anyone who used to have a moped and siezed it might know the coke trick, pour some coke into the cylinder wait 10 to 15 minutes, rock it backward and forward in gear and hey presto - unsiezed!
Anyway, there was still water in the cylinders so i went to wilco, bought a battery fluid checker (turkey baster) and some windscreen washer hose and a hose joiner, sucked all the water out using this improvised tool. It did work a treat! Poured some Coke into each cylinder and waited 15 minutes put the car in 5th gear and rocked it back and forth, hey presto ONE UNSIEZED ENGINE! - tuned the key and she coughed and spluttered and started, revved nicely but sounded like the RAC man had left several tools in the cam covers. Got the bugger started but the engine was buggered! The car is now with the insurers.

James, check your insurance. Luckily my friend was covered!
If you are not covered buy some CokaCola.

Sorry if i have rambled a bit, had a few glasses of wine.
JM

What would that come under as an insurance claim ???

I think it looks like james has the same sort of intake as me (upgraded CAi ) it means the filter sits in the inner wheel arch just behind the front fog lights .

Good luck with it james 8)

jazzymonkey · Post by **jazzymonkey** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 8:39 pm

Flood damage i think. The car is at the garage, the assesor says looks like a write off. And the claim forms have been sent out and returned. Waiting to hear. I didnt think of an insurance claim. I will keep you posted.
The Alfa's intake/airbox sits near the front of the engine bay on the nearside, very low. And the Alfashop removed the undertray on the last service because it was hanging low!
JM

James Breadvan · Post by **James Breadvan** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:42 pm

Will look on my insurance policy when I get back to Norwich.

I've been looking into other engine blocks and get hold of a freshly built strokered 2.2 for 2k but am not sure if my supercharger has enough puff to fill the extra capacity.

RX7 · Post by **RX7** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:32 pm

Really sorry to hear that mate especially after you had it running very well.

I think you are gonna be right re the supercharger, you could always mail Jackson in the US though.

Is the 2.2 the Prelude engine ? Thats not as 'special' as your Type R 2.0.

Will it fit straight in, I am guessing you will need a fair bit of other stuff to get it to mate up with yours ? Also wont it be heavier ?

Good luck getting it sorted though.

James Breadvan · Post by **James Breadvan** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:40 pm

Its a k20a2 strokered engine out of a type R. It has low compression pistons though so i think i would lose power maybe??