Earlier this evening here in Fresno (central Cali) there was one hell of a storm around 6pm. I was napping before my shift tonight and didn't realize that there was a hail storm outside. I looked out the window and it looked like F'n armageddon. I've lived here pretty much my whole life so witnessing something like this was totally unexpected.

Anyways i had to be at work by 7:30 pm. As i watched through my window i only noticed that the storm was getting worse and the roads were flooding pretty heavily. So i had no choice but to take the Z out. My beater was in no shape to be driven. Once i exited the apartment complex that's when i realized i made a huge mistake. From my apt complex the water got deeper and deeper to the point where the water was level with the top of the front bumper. I couldn't turn back because it was complete chaos on the streets with cops and firetrucks guiding traffic...just a cluster **** of cars.

I cringed everytime i hit the gas and watched a wave of water come over the top of my hood(no BS!!), waiting for my motor to get hydrolocked from sucking in water. I'd say my car was submerged for a total of 30-40 mins. Yet no water made it's way in the cabin(weird) and my Z just kept on going. There were cars already stuck in the water bcuz of the flooded areas. To be honest i was already thinking my Z is fcuked might as well make it worth it and let the car go to sheit and get a new one(GAP ftw!). Well my Z made it out and one the way to work i ran the Z pretty hard to see if anything was wrong..i noticed nothing, ran perfert.

But my question is even though the Z runs fine now should i take it in to be looked at in just to make sure? I'm a little worried bcuz it was submerged for such a long time. Any suggestions on what i should do? And if anything is wrong, will insurance cover damages because of the flood? I have full coverage from Farmers if that helps.

 

for reference...http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/177782.html

 

alright it's offical my Z is fcuked! i turned the car on and it stalled before it started, could be due to the shiet load of leaves covering the radiator..went for a quick drive and the engine is knocking pretty bad!

so where do i go from here? After calling insurance they will they send somebody to come out and check the car. Will they even try to fix it or just deem it salvaged bcuz of water damage?

 

damn... that sounds crazy. All we got in San Jose was a little rain

Hope everythings ok with you and the Z

 

There were flash flood, hail, and even tornado warnings in the Bakersfield areas last night. When I heard the warnings I moved my car to a parking garage a couple blocks away. Luckily the storm missed my part of town. Central Valley towns are horrible when it storms, there's no place for the water to go.

 

i really hope they deem the car salvaged. as much as i'd hate to get rid of my Z, the idea of knowing what it went through won't keep my mind at ease. i'm calling in the morning after work to see what happens from here.

 

I am unsure what happens to our engine but in the 7th gen celica (4cyl) it basically causes a rod to bend/break since liquid (water) in the cylinder(s) doesn't compress like air does and something has to give. You'll basically need a new short block and depending on any other damage caused after the fact you could need a new motor.

If the weather was that bad I would have called into work and told them the situation and would've been late. I once sat on the side of the road waiting for the water to drain away until I was able to move in my old celica which was slammed with a cai 8" off the ground.

 

Holy MotherF!!!! That sucks Randy! Hope the Z's okay. Glad you didn't end up swimming either! Heh. Anywho, that's crazy though! Hail in Fresno!

 

aww...i remeber that day...it sucked so bad.. and usually it never hails in fresno too!

 

Ah, you California people! That's normal weather for us. At what RPM is your car knocking at? Other's have experience this before, even in less amount of water. Your car did not hydralock so that's a good news.

Try turning off the car and starting it up later. Alot of time, this solves the problem. Since your car was experience alot of water, allow for a longer time to have the water drain out before you drive.

Good luck and keep us update.

 

damn what the hell? it didnt hail where i was at... it did flood tho.. but i dodged the flood..... i couldnt get traction either my rear tires are fcukin bald... but hopefully they claim ur car salvage.... not that i want it to... just a fresh one would be nice...

 

i just went through a similar problem about an hour ago and i have no idea whats going on, but it wasnt a flood it was about a 6-8 inch deep puddle coming out of the jack in the box driveway and my car will not start- any suggestions. heres my post on zilvia but i doubt there are many z owners on there, by the way its an 04.

I was just pulling out of Jack in the box, 99c tacos are my vice, and there was a nice size puddle that I rolled through pretty slowly out the driveway. As soon as I got to the point where the water was highest to the center of the car it just shut off. I had all my dash lights, headlights, radio, etc. but the engine just TRIED to turn over just a "chn" noise. I pushed into a parking spot with some help from some good simaritans trying to push start it and drive home but nothing. I waited and called AAA (which was total BS) and kept trying to start the car but nothing was changing. The only thing that i could think of was that the intake I bought the car with is an injen and the filter hangs down behind the bumper, is there some rediculous vacuum pressure that sucked water up through there? I'm just wondering what went wrong here, any help is always appreciated.


thanks, Mike