[No_Return]

Just to get the facts straight. What was the Dealers 'Offcial' writeup of the damage to the JK?

Why? Here's a pic of the JK intake (from my JK - I have an AEM system with an Outerwears prefilter):

The water would have to come in, go down the intake tube, then back up and through the filter (while not draining out the holes in the intake). If the OP submerged the JK then 'maybe' but.....somehow I don't thing we're getting the whole story.

Andy

The problem is that the drains in the bottom aren't big enough. Fill that box full of water+ a little mud and see how long it takes to drain out. If it gets full and you turn hard to the left etc. I've been thinking of placing a 1" 1 way valve in the bottom of the air box until I've got the $$$ for an AEV hood and snorkel.

 

[asknight]

You can pick up a 3.8L and tranny that someone took out of a Wrangler with no miles on it for $500. It sounds like your issue is being handled by insurance, but if anyone else who reads this ends up in the same situation, make sure you look around before you drop the dough on a new one. There are quite a few out there from folks who upgraded to a Hemi.

I wish I could find deals like that around here. I would love to try to shoehorn it into my 4 cyl TJ at that price.

 

[CTJeepWJ]

JKTester, when you tried to restart it, did the starter activate and try to turn over the engine?

 

[little_Jeep]

JKTester, when you tried to restart it, did the starter activate and try to turn over the engine?

What difference does it make? The dealer said there is internal damage from water ingestion, the insurance company agrees to pay $9K because of damage. I can't imagine an insurance company eager to pay $9K for nothing.

 

[CTJeepWJ]

It makes a difference because if you had water sucked into the engine through the top of the engine, then it would actually lock the pistons up and keep them from moving. i.e. your engine wouldn't be able to try to crank hence the 'lock' portion of hydrolock. It literally locks up the engine.

Dealerships and insurance companies can/will generalized damage in order get paperwork processed.

 

[little_Jeep]

It makes a difference because if you had water sucked into the engine through the top of the engine, then it would actually lock the pistons up and keep them from moving. i.e. your engine wouldn't be able to try to crank hence the 'lock' portion of hydrolock. It literally locks up the engine.

Dealerships and insurance companies can/will generalized damage in order get paperwork processed.

Engine would only be locked until a hole was punched in a piston, or a connecting rod broke, or the water had time to drain into the pan, etc..

Generalize? Something caused internal damage to the engine. The dealer and the insurance company have the Jeep, they have seen the broken parts, and I would assume they know the signs of water ingestion to look for. JKtester isn't much help in providing information because he is not mechanically inclined and as far as I know, has not personally seen the damaged parts or the signs that led to the conclusion of water ingestion.

 

[ultimo]

I have a video that I hope to post up this weekend on the WJ splashing through water

 

[JKTester]

JKTester, when you tried to restart it, did the starter activate and try to turn over the engine?

Yes, the starter would activate but nothing would engage.

 

[JKTester]

Engine would only be locked until a hole was punched in a piston, or a connecting rod broke, or the water had time to drain into the pan, etc..

Generalize? Something caused internal damage to the engine. The dealer and the insurance company have the Jeep, they have seen the broken parts, and I would assume they know the signs of water ingestion to look for. JKtester isn't much help in providing information because he is not mechanically inclined and as far as I know, has not personally seen the damaged parts or the signs that led to the conclusion of water ingestion.

You are right in every case, I am not the most mechanically inclined. I do, however, know exactly how an engine works and understand the inner workings well. When I say I'm not mechanically inclined I could not jump under the hood and tell you what was broken unless it was actually something broken, now doing engine work myself...if I had the tools and the time, it wouldn't be a problem. I have not seen the damaged parts but will be bringing them home with me when I pick her up. Hopefully tomorrow or Saturday. Once I get them home I will be able to tell a little more about what happened. I did not get a clear understanding from my service advisor as he was not the mechanic and he was basically reporting to me what the mechanic reported to him. I will gladly post a list of everything that they replaced as well as pictures of the damaged parts.

 

[LuckRider]

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but this is a story on Jalopnik. They have the video posted, and after watching that, there is no reason why they shouldn't warranty it: Why Did A New Jeep Wrangler Die In Ten Inches Of Water?

Edit: I should also mention that I have splashed through puddles that deep with the water coming up 20 feet above my Jeep. Yes, that was in 2 different TJs, but honestly, it shouldn't matter. I hit them so hard that the Jeep threw us into the seatbelts when we hit the water.

 

[little_Jeep]

You are right in every case, I am not the most mechanically inclined. I do, however, know exactly how an engine works and understand the inner workings well. When I say I'm not mechanically inclined I could not jump under the hood and tell you what was broken unless it was actually something broken, now doing engine work myself...if I had the tools and the time, it wouldn't be a problem. I have not seen the damaged parts but will be bringing them home with me when I pick her up. Hopefully tomorrow or Saturday. Once I get them home I will be able to tell a little more about what happened. I did not get a clear understanding from my service advisor as he was not the mechanic and he was basically reporting to me what the mechanic reported to him. I will gladly post a list of everything that they replaced as well as pictures of the damaged parts.

I am sorry that I said you were not mechanically inclined. I hope that I didn't offend you. That was not my desire. Photos of the damaged parts and possibly a copy of the work order and parts that were replaced would provide a lot of information. I just find it odd that people are still debating your engine problems being nothing more than a wet electrical component. We are so far past this point it isn't funny.

Posting stories about I did this or that in my CJ, YJ,TJ,XJ, or whatever non JK there is, isn't a help. It seems that JK's have a real issue with water ingestion. Is it cause by inexperienced driver?, or is there an issue with the design or location of the airbox?, or maybe a vacuum line disconnected that sucks water into the engine? Maybe it's a combination of these issues. Yet, there are Jeepers who have been in far deeper water than JKtester did and they didn't have any water ingestion in their engine. Whatever is causing the issue, a snorkel appears to be a wise investment if you own a JK.

 

[Washi]

...or maybe a vacuum line disconnected that sucks water into the engine?
...Whatever is causing the issue, a snorkel appears to be a wise investment if you own a JK.

Unless it's a vacuum line, in which case we are all still screwed.

 

[ncb]

Unless it's a vacuum line, in which case we are all still screwed.

Normally an open vacuum line will give you issues such as rough idle.

 

[LuckRider]

If it is a vacuum line, you should be able to extend it with that clear water hose that is used fro hooking up the ice machine on refrigerators.

 

[markw8]

I think this can be chalked up to it was not his luckey day. The planets were not aligned.

Mark

 

[JKTester]

I am sorry that I said you were not mechanically inclined. I hope that I didn't offend you. That was not my desire. Photos of the damaged parts and possibly a copy of the work order and parts that were replaced would provide a lot of information. I just find it odd that people are still debating your engine problems being nothing more than a wet electrical component. We are so far past this point it isn't funny.

Posting stories about I did this or that in my CJ, YJ,TJ,XJ, or whatever non JK there is, isn't a help. It seems that JK's have a real issue with water ingestion. Is it cause by inexperienced driver?, or is there an issue with the design or location of the airbox?, or maybe a vacuum line disconnected that sucks water into the engine? Maybe it's a combination of these issues. Yet, there are Jeepers who have been in far deeper water than JKtester did and they didn't have any water ingestion in their engine. Whatever is causing the issue, a snorkel appears to be a wise investment if you own a JK.

I took no offense at all. No worries. One of my initial thoughts, the .5 seconds that it went through my head, was the potential of it being an electrical issue only to see that everything electrical was still working. While we were stuck out there trying to figure it out we disconnected the battery to see if it would reset anything. It obviously didn't work. In my lack of mechanical skills and not understanding how a starter worked I wondered if possibly the engine just stalled and the started drive snapped making it not turn the engine over. No matter the case it was not anything we could fix while we were out there and I honestly thought that after seeing what I had gone through the dealership would also see that this was an unusual event. If I get nothing more out of this, hopefully my calls to Chrysler and to the management will get them to take a look at the intake to see if there are improvements to be made. Best case scenario they take care of it for me with a "Hey, sorry this happened, we'll cover it this time." But they're covering their butts. In my discussion with the Area Manager he stated that it was an insurance claim because they can't cover water damage. I stated, that this discussion would not even be taking place if I intentionally drove a Seabring into a puddle...but I took their most "capable" offroad vehicle into a puddle it should have handled. That's just my thoughts on it.

I do have to add that so far, Jill (my Jeep) has been unstoppable. I have had her going up some crazy hills and seeing exactly what her capabilities are. When it comes to hills, rocks, or even bush, she has handled it all with easy. Water...not so much.

 

[little_Jeep]

--snip--

I do have to add that so far, Jill (my Jeep) has been unstoppable. I have had her going up some crazy hills and seeing exactly what her capabilities are. When it comes to hills, rocks, or even bush, she has handled it all with easy. Water...not so much.

Don't hold this against Jill..... just get her a snorkel, and make sure all the joints in airtube are water tight. Then be gentle with any future water crossings.

 

[Dave88LX]

I saw this on Jalopnik, and I thought that water looked familiar. I used to live in San Angelo, and used to play out at Twin Buttes all the time.

Should have bought a Bronco.

Looks like the water wasn't as deep when you went through it. Either way, there is no reason your "offroad" Jeep should hydrolock after going through that. That is sad.

Same path:

 

[jmccormick]

you would join just to post dave hahahahaahaa

 

[Dave88LX]

<3 <3 <3

I was so excited when I saw it was at Twin Buttes.