Following on from this thread...

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=96412&page=1

Bad news! I took the plugs out and there is water in 3 of the 6 cylinders - not sure how much but it definately there!

Im not sure how it has happened but I think the engine may be seized but just check my logic....

With the gearbox in 5th gear and the handbrake off (+ all the spark plugs out!) I attemtped a tow of the car with girlfriends mondeo.

Despite the mondeo sounding like it was trying pretty hard the car wouldnt budge and no sign of the engine turning... so Im deducing from that that the engine is FUBARd - is that reasonable?

The only other thing I could think of is that the starter is mullered and somehow jamming the flywheel??

Could the cold water have bent the con rods and jammed the bottom end? Or maybe the cold water has fractured the rings and they have jammed in the bores?

Any ideas / divine inspiration welcome!

Geoff

> Could the cold water have bent the con rods and jammed the bottom end?

Yes that sounds rather likely I'm afraid It only takes a little more water than the volume of the cylinder/head at TDC to bend con rods and possibly break the crank/pistons as it doesn't compress (strictly it does but only a tiny amount).

I doubt the starter theory, but if you remove the starter and it turnd then it could be. Sump off is the only way to prove it.

Talk to the insurer about claiming against flood damage if the car is worth claiming against.

[Edited on 9/9/08 by iank]

Almost certainly engine has hydrauliced & bent a conrod.
Water, unlike air fuel mixtur, is not compressible hence even a small amount of water in the bore can cause major damage - the conrod is usually the first thing to give & will thoroughly seize the engine. If it was a starter prob it would turn if towed. Sorry
As I mentioned in previous thread it's worth looking at insurance re flood damage.

Same as happened to my old mondy in the floods last year. What wrote it off tho was the fact that water had got into the cabin and soaked all the electrics under the seats (ECUs for airbags and allsorts) that wrote it off - it would have needed a whole new wiring loom. Mine did drive afterwards tho, it felt pretty knackered and smoked like a smokey thing..

good luck with the insurance!

A mate did this with his Seat TDi last year. Got it sorted through the insurance who wrote his car off and gave him a nice healthy payout to buy it back anf fix it himself

Oh dear Geoff

That doesn't sound great.

You can borrow the Landie if you want until you get the Bimmer fixed.

Anything else I can help with, just let me know.

Mike

sounds like hydrolic lock to me. take the sump/head off and have a look.

have you tried taking it out of gear and turning it over by hand on the crank pully nut/bolt with a socket on a long bar?