flooded ls430
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: ca
flooded ls430
My lexus ls430 2001 has been flooded in Napa last week. In the last 2 weeks, I let the car dry out by:
-taking the spark plugs out
-leaving all windows,doors, engine covers,... opened
This morning I bought a new battery, put 5 gallons of fuel in the tank and tried to start the car again:
-all the electronic (GPS,radio,seats,...) works! (The car even call the Lexus link call center everytime I hook/unhook the battery!)
-when I turn the ignition, the engine turns but does not start. If I spray a "startup engine" can in the air intake,the car starts but stalls after 5 seconds.
-nothing happens when I push on the accelerator...
I took the ECM (engine control module) out and checked: it went below water. I dried it but it did not help!
Can anyone help?
Thanks.
Viny
-taking the spark plugs out
-leaving all windows,doors, engine covers,... opened
This morning I bought a new battery, put 5 gallons of fuel in the tank and tried to start the car again:
-all the electronic (GPS,radio,seats,...) works! (The car even call the Lexus link call center everytime I hook/unhook the battery!)
-when I turn the ignition, the engine turns but does not start. If I spray a "startup engine" can in the air intake,the car starts but stalls after 5 seconds.
-nothing happens when I push on the accelerator...
I took the ECM (engine control module) out and checked: it went below water. I dried it but it did not help!
Can anyone help?
Thanks.
Viny
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 31,944
Likes: 2,737
From: North Carolina
Viny,
Based on some discussions with Lexus Master Techs about flooded cars, I would strongly advise you to work with your insurance company to get your car totalled and buy another.
There are electrical items that will work sporadically or that may take several months for rust and water damage to show up. If the car was badly submerged, run away now.
Welcome to the forum, sorry this has to be your first post. Good luck
Based on some discussions with Lexus Master Techs about flooded cars, I would strongly advise you to work with your insurance company to get your car totalled and buy another.
There are electrical items that will work sporadically or that may take several months for rust and water damage to show up. If the car was badly submerged, run away now.
Welcome to the forum, sorry this has to be your first post. Good luck
Originally Posted by DaveGS4
Viny,
Based on some discussions with Lexus Master Techs about flooded cars, I would strongly advise you to work with your insurance company to get your car totalled and buy another.
There are electrical items that will work sporadically or that may take several months for rust and water damage to show up. If the car was badly submerged, run away now.
Welcome to the forum, sorry this has to be your first post. Good luck
Based on some discussions with Lexus Master Techs about flooded cars, I would strongly advise you to work with your insurance company to get your car totalled and buy another.
There are electrical items that will work sporadically or that may take several months for rust and water damage to show up. If the car was badly submerged, run away now.
Welcome to the forum, sorry this has to be your first post. Good luck
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: CA
if the ECU was under water then ur gona have many problems later....was it fresh water or salt ?? i have restored many flood cars and i can tell you that unless u know where to find used parts (electrical ) you can spend more money fixing it then the car is worth...the LS has computers everywhere and they will start going out one by one on u.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: ca
Thanks to everyone on your replies!
The car got flooded by the Napa river flooding 2 weeks ago. Fresh water and yes water up to the roof! I could not move it away from the water: the flood went fast (like always) and hit during the night. I live on the other side of a bridge and could not move the car away from the water. All I could do was to move it to the highest point in my garden!
I only had liability on the car thus no insurance will help! It looks like After your feedbacks, I think I will stop working on it and total it.
Thanks.
Viny
The car got flooded by the Napa river flooding 2 weeks ago. Fresh water and yes water up to the roof! I could not move it away from the water: the flood went fast (like always) and hit during the night. I live on the other side of a bridge and could not move the car away from the water. All I could do was to move it to the highest point in my garden!
I only had liability on the car thus no insurance will help! It looks like After your feedbacks, I think I will stop working on it and total it.
Thanks.
Viny
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Originally Posted by vcolmar
Thanks to everyone on your replies!
The car got flooded by the Napa river flooding 2 weeks ago. Fresh water and yes water up to the roof! I could not move it away from the water: the flood went fast (like always) and hit during the night. I live on the other side of a bridge and could not move the car away from the water. All I could do was to move it to the highest point in my garden!
I only had liability on the car thus no insurance will help! It looks like After your feedbacks, I think I will stop working on it and total it.
Thanks.
Viny
The car got flooded by the Napa river flooding 2 weeks ago. Fresh water and yes water up to the roof! I could not move it away from the water: the flood went fast (like always) and hit during the night. I live on the other side of a bridge and could not move the car away from the water. All I could do was to move it to the highest point in my garden!
I only had liability on the car thus no insurance will help! It looks like After your feedbacks, I think I will stop working on it and total it.
Thanks.
Viny
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: NYC Raised But ATL is where I stay.
Wow man I really feel for you. Especially only having liability insurance. I hope something positive comes out of this. 
Perhaps you mamy find some computers from a salvage yard or online or something. I wish you good luck and I hope you're rolling soon.
Perhaps you mamy find some computers from a salvage yard or online or something. I wish you good luck and I hope you're rolling soon.
You probably should have let it sit for a couple of months before trying to do anything electrical, like trying to start it, so it could dry out. The damage is done for sure now. You might look for a wrecked parts car for most everything electrical is going to have to be swapped out. You could also part it out to recover some of your investment. Is it paid for? I assume it is since you didn't have it fully insured, but if not, you've got an even bigger problem.
Originally Posted by jmblimo
You probably should have let it sit for a couple of months before trying to do anything electrical, like trying to start it, so it could dry out. The damage is done for sure now. You might look for a wrecked parts car for most everything electrical is going to have to be swapped out. You could also part it out to recover some of your investment. Is it paid for? I assume it is since you didn't have it fully insured, but if not, you've got an even bigger problem.
i am sorry to hear your loss, that's a big hit
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 11
I think I would take out every computer I could get my hands on & remove the cover & let them dry in a controlled environment.
I'm not sure this will help but anything has to beat "waiting on rust". Does anyone make a product that he can spray on the circuit boards that could help?
Caig comes first to mind:
http://www.caig.com/
Good luck w this. What a horrific pain in the ***.
I'm not sure this will help but anything has to beat "waiting on rust". Does anyone make a product that he can spray on the circuit boards that could help?
Caig comes first to mind:
http://www.caig.com/
Good luck w this. What a horrific pain in the ***.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Ca
If it starts and only runs untill the starting fluid runs out could be a good sign. It sounds like it is not getting any fuel in the system, so with that check the fuse, relay, and fuel pump. There may even be a couple of fuel pumps there as this is common with the newer and more complex fuel injection system. Once you located the fuel pump have someone turn the ignition on and you should hear a buzzing sound (it usually buzz on and turn off and on again as it needs to feed fuel.) Good luck.
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