Serious Water Damage...

[TDItus]

I am considering buying a flood damaged 2005 Jetta TDI wagon with a five-speed. It has 51,000 miles on it, and the water got high enough to be above the hood. That means, of course, the whole interior of the car, including the entire dash, and the engine and all components, were at least temporarily under water. I have not yet inspected the vehicle in person, so this is all I know as of yet.

My question is, what is the WORST case scenario? If the engine was running when the flood damage occurred, should I assume a hydrolock situation? Is there ANY chance that some of the electronics may have survived, or should I also assume replacement of all that? Other than the water damage, the car appears to have no body damage.

If I could get this vehicle for $5000, is it worth the risk? Or am I nuts to even consider it?

F.Y.I. I would be removing the seats, carpet, dashboard, etc., for cleaning, and replacing the electronic stuff myself. If there is a bent rod or worse, I would have to hire that out. Still, even if I had to invest another $3000 or more, maybe it's worth a shot. These cars are not easy to obtain.

Be nice, all you experts.

TDItus

 

[mrGutWrench]

I am considering buying a flood damaged 2005 Jetta TDI wagon with a five-speed. It has 51,000 miles on it, and the water got high enough to be above the hood. That means, of course, the whole interior of the car, including the entire dash, and the engine and all components, were at least temporarily under water. I have not yet inspected the vehicle in person, so this is all I know as of yet.

My question is, what is the WORST case scenario? If the engine was running when the flood damage occurred, should I assume a hydrolock situation? Is there ANY chance that some of the electronics may have survived, or should I also assume replacement of all that? Other than the water damage, the car appears to have no body damage.

If I could get this vehicle for $5000, is it worth the risk? Or am I nuts to even consider it?

F.Y.I. I would be removing the seats, carpet, dashboard, etc., for cleaning, and replacing the electronic stuff myself. If there is a bent rod or worse, I would have to hire that out. Still, even if I had to invest another $3000 or more, maybe it's worth a shot. These cars are not easy to obtain.

Be nice, all you experts.

TDItus

__. I've seen these cars. Nearly all of them down the road (say 6 months or so) develop wierd-ass electrical problem due to corrosion in connectors, light bulb sockets, and interior of components. Also, you won't need to "clean" carpets, padding, insulation, upholstery -- you'll need to replace it with new. Trying to "clean" and reuse the old stuff means that you'll be growing the cure for a couple of tropical diseases a few weeks after the weather turns warm.

__. In my opinion, you're looking at way too much opportunity for problems. I certainly wouldn't pay $5000 for one.

__. All the above pertains to a vehicle that was sitting when flooded. If the engine was running or any electrical parts were energized when the flooding occurred, it's worse. If there's even any chance that the engine was running, it's worth $0.

 

[Jwagen04]

Walk away... just walk away..

 

[weedeater]

If the water actually got that high, I'd say the motor would make a good boat anchor and the electronics are shot.

 

[Antsrcool]

usually they always smell electrical nightmares forever especially if it had salt water newhere near it.....it owudl make a good parts car for a motor if it hadnt been running at the time of flooding. other then a good reliable parts car i say move on to a running one and spend the extra dollars

 

[oilhammer]

Walk away? Man I would RUN away...fast! You could not PAY me to take on one of those projects, no way, no how. It will never, EVER be right again. Ever. Period. End of story..

 

[scurvy]

Don't walk - RUN. That car will be a basket case from the get-go, and if you think you're gonna have a joyous time with a multimeter and your Bentley replacing all the wiring, just wait until you get to deal with upholstery!

You could pay me enough to take on one of these projects, but you couldn't afford it. While my hourly rate may not seem like much, I work reaaaaaaaaaaally sloooooooooooow.

If you could get this car for free and replacement parts for 1/10th list price, it would only be a worthwhile project if your time was worthless... and you felt like taking everything down to component pieces and starting out to assemble your kit car. Maybe go visit the factory in Puebla to get some pointers?

And oilhammer's right - it will never be "right" again, no matter how far down you strip the car.

 

[afarfalla]

I bought a Katrina F150, salt water over the dash, picked it up cheap, put $3000 into it, sold it a year ago truck runs like new no recurring problems. Salt water is difficult but the corrosion process can be stopped, fresh water is no problem. I've bought and sold several fresh water flooded TDI's with no problems. The procedure I use is lengthy so e-mail me and I'll go through it with you, I've only had to replace two modules in a 05 passat wagon, I've managed to save all the rugs and upolstery with no consequences afterward. You have to buy it cheap and have 2 or 3 months to spend on it. $5000 is too high, If you can get it for $3000 go for it.

 

[boraTDI04]

i heard of katrina vehicles unprotected metal and dash undersides still having that biohazard waste dried and soaked into everything. this volunteer firefighter was called to a wreck and turns out the totaled car came from katrina and cut his hand through his glove and the cut became infected and turned out to be sepsis. i would not even give it a look especially salt water damage.

 

[afarfalla]

My F150 was bathed in denatured alcohol ,every nook and cranny, then power washed, then allowed to dry and all surfaces were coated with oil, similiar to WD40, I didn't even get the runs?

 

[doonboggle]

RUN ... as fast as you can to the nearest exit.

 

[forrest resto`s]

Parts car only, especially if salt water!

 

[Franko6]

for $1000-$2000 MAYBE... For $5000... no stinking way. those are labor intensive cars to restore.

 

[Dimitri16V]

I would stay away but I have couple of spare ECUs if you decide to take the plunge. That car was probaly driven in a flooded road , engine damage is a given.

 

[40X40]

You probably want to hear something good.... But, and I'm sorry...

RUN
RUN
RUN

Find a more worthwhile project.

JMO
Bill

 

[TDItus]

You guys are comical as...

Thanks to all of ya, but especially afarfalla... only because eight months ago I bought a flood-damaged 2003 Jetta TDI wagon with a five-speed and invested $35 for a used alternator... put 20,000 on it thus far and no electronic issues... knock on wood... the HUGE difference, of course, is that the one I already bought did not suffer exposure to water above the hood...

Anyways, I suspect you are all mostly correct... and I know your advice is very well intended... I'll probably pass on this one, but if I make the plunge I'll keep everybody posted... geez, was that TWO puns in a row???

Thanks everybody.

TDItus