Do you think the engine is safe & reliable?

[Forrest]

Here's the scoop. A VW Bug, couple yrs old, was driven thru flood waters a few weeks ago. It's back in NJ. The word came back that the motor was knocking real loud. They had it towed to the dealer, who said it needed a new motor ... $6k.



The dealer changed all the fluids & the car was picked up from the dealer & driven a few miles away. The guy who picked it up said there is only a slight ticking sound.



We're guessing that the water in the motor was causing all the noise. Question, would you go pick it up & drive it cross country? What would you have checked out, if anything?





thanks

 

[JoshPeters]

Ticking or knocking can be a big difference. I think I would be leary to drive it cross county..... let alone cross country. A ticking from water damage? Could be a lifter. It depends on the extent of the flood damage. Was it driven through the water till it died? It could have been hyrdolocked. If it was I'd pull the motor down and check things out that way.





Josh

 

[AKAMAC]

Do the new VW's have OH cams? If not, it may be a bent pushrod.

 

[HOBrian]

Where in NJ???

 

[Wolfgang]

It is in Smyrna Delaware but I could get it to Atlantic City very easily.

 

[lmills]

if it hyrdo-locked till it shut down, it is probably toast. The water gets compressed in the cylinder till it shuts down. The results are usually rod or bearing damage or worse.