The Day My Lcr Nearly Died...with Pics!

[chris_adair]

Hi,

Been meaning to put these photos up for last few weeks...

Was driving to Girlfriend's house few weeks back, and nearly got stumped in middle of massive flood, it must've been a good few foot deep.

As from photos...her MG ZR went through no probs, but mine went through rather reluctantly, almost stalled (gave plenty of revs) and alot of clutch burning...
Gearbox was v. sticky the next morning (wouldnt select any gears, but banged into second, and it found them all)
Car has been running fine since, luckily gfs was only round corner from this...so managed to pull all out from grill after these shots...
Just incase, anything I should check for? The water line was up to halfway on fog lights!!

 

[gb]

not be doing that again then buy is it alright now

 

[ChrisJ]

Im not sure but if it was a bit rough on the gears there maybe water in the gearbox? half way up the fog must be above the bottom of the doors surely?

 

[chris_adair]

Im not sure but if it was a bit rough on the gears there maybe water in the gearbox? half way up the fog must be above the bottom of the doors surely?

I know, this is what I was concerned about...

Morning after flood I started car, and depressed clutch, but would go into any gear but managed to get into second somehow...then was fine since, but havent had it checked out yet...
But I only havent had it checked cos its been running fine!!
Well, we went through the flood in her MG after, and I am sure it was above doors on hers, didnt seem possible cos surely door seals cant keep out that much water?
Maybe it created more of a bow wave than actually going above doors? Dunno, I found this bit weird!

 

[chris_adair]

not be doing that again then buy is it alright now

No, def not...dont think Leons are meant for floods at all....

 

[CupraMVR]

Is that why Clarkson didnt use a leon to go across the channel?

 

[Tyler Owen]

Looks like your Leon has grown a beard !!

 

[chris_adair]

Looks like your Leon has grown a beard !!

Ha, does actually. Took it down to local garage earlier, had mechanic look over it, he said it was fine....thank goodness...teach me a lesson...

 

[Jonny]

I went through bit of a flood in my LCR on my way home from work a few weeks ago... well, more of a big puddle really, was only about 8-10" deep. Got through it okay, turned into my street, parked up and thought no more about it.

The following morning I got in and couldn't select reverse Thought the worst... gearbox knackered But then I thought how could water get into the gearbox, and even if it did, how would it stop you selecting a gear???

My next thought was the clutch, maybe damp / sticky... I left the engine running for about 30 minutes to warm up / dry out a bit, gave it another try... went straight into reverse Took it for a drive for a few miles to try out all the gears, was absolutely fine!

I once drove through a "proper" flood a few years back in a Fiat Punto - that was scary! Couldn't see the edge of the road... I knew there was a bank & stream somewhere near... and the fields alongside the roads were flooded too! I'd already tried 2 other ways of getting home, this was my last chance! I'll never forget the thud & hiss as the water pressure pushed the air out of my door seals, the thin glow of light from the top of my headlights, and how muted the exhaust note was, even at 6000rpm... battery light flickering... thought I was gonna get stranded right in the middle - but I got through, eventually, and my little Fiat lived... just... it was very steamy 'n' smokey (clutch) and it juddered up the road for a while, but apart from that (and damp carpets & a boot full of water) it was fine! Sure as hell don't want to do that again!

 

[ArosaRacer]

looks like its got cabbage hanging out its gob

 

[chris_adair]

I went through bit of a flood in my LCR on my way home from work a few weeks ago... well, more of a big puddle really, was only about 8-10" deep. Got through it okay, turned into my street, parked up and thought no more about it.

The following morning I got in and couldn't select reverse Thought the worst... gearbox knackered But then I thought how could water get into the gearbox, and even if it did, how would it stop you selecting a gear???

My next thought was the clutch, maybe damp / sticky... I left the engine running for about 30 minutes to warm up / dry out a bit, gave it another try... went straight into reverse Took it for a drive for a few miles to try out all the gears, was absolutely fine!

I once drove through a "proper" flood a few years back in a Fiat Punto - that was scary! Couldn't see the edge of the road... I knew there was a bank & stream somewhere near... and the fields alongside the roads were flooded too! I'd already tried 2 other ways of getting home, this was my last chance! I'll never forget the thud & hiss as the water pressure pushed the air out of my door seals, the thin glow of light from the top of my headlights, and how muted the exhaust note was, even at 6000rpm... battery light flickering... thought I was gonna get stranded right in the middle - but I got through, eventually, and my little Fiat lived... just... it was very steamy 'n' smokey (clutch) and it juddered up the road for a while, but apart from that (and damp carpets & a boot full of water) it was fine! Sure as hell don't want to do that again!

Wow, your punto experience sounds like one not to be relived....

Yeah, sounds something like my experience with the LCR...all my gears were not achievable for while, then managed to find them all after few minutes running....will NOT do it again!!!

Although...after reading some comments high engine revs are not way to go as it will suck in loads more water in the air intake. However some ppl reckon it is best to give it loads revs....

 

[Phillc]

Yeah from what i have been told you need the revs, it stops the water going up the exhaust and stalling the engine and water going up the exhaust, how far depends on how deep the water is, my wife went through a small lake in my LC and the water (bow wave) came over the bonnet lucky she knew what to do!, the scary thing is, the weekend before i had taken the air filter of which would have been behind the front wheel and been totally submerged.

 

[ChrisG]

Sorry to dig this one up again but it seems the gearbox thing must be a trait of the 1.8T engine and/or the 6spd box because I had the same this morning in my Cupra, driving through about 6-8" of flood and have had it a couple of times before driving through a local ford.

I got through the flood OK but immediately after the gearbox was very baulky when changing gear, as if you're trying to change gear with the clutch only half down. After a few miles it was fine again so I also suspect its water getting into the clutch / flywheel housing making the clutch drag a bit, and it needs a few miles to dry out again.

Finding this thread has reassured me a bit that its not just mine!

Chris

 

[Matt Cupra R]

Lucky escape.

I have heard before that the main reason that cars are written off after floods, even when they look and run fine, is that water gets into the ventalation system and that car is then condemed due to potential bacteria build up afterwards.

I'm sure yours is fine though, doesn't look like it was that far up.