Hydrolocked

[yillbs]

Hey Guys,

Quick question. My truck made it out to the forest this weekend. It rained a bit, and long story short, it did excellent. That is.. until I found a 8-foot hole. The truck was submerged ( up to door handles with a 6 inch lift, and 35's ) and had about half a gallon of water in the intake. It shut itself off ( died while entering the " hole " ). Once it died, we called a tow truck they came and got us. Did not attempt to start the truck, but everything electric worked ( including my amp side steps ).

AFter it was all said and done insurance said " we're totaling it ". They took it about 200 miles away, then called me a week later and said " good news, not totaling it ". However; they tried to start it multiple times while it was on their lot.

They are taking it to a dodge dealer to have it " inspected ". Pretty positive the engine is ruined. None the less, progressive is saying it needs a new engine.

I'm extremely worried about letting them fix it and being okay with it. Does anyone with knowledge of how the insurance process works have any pointers? Water made it into the cab ( not much, about an inch or so, but it was 70% mud, and dried like mud ).

Thanks!

 

[Pull Ya]

IMHO--and there are a lot of guys on here with a lot more knowledge than I have, but I think if you let them repair your truck, even with a new engine, if you had that much water in and around the motor, and around lots of electrical connections, I'd be bailing out(sorry) of that truck ASAP. Water and electricity don't mix very well however some will say that the connections are suppose to be waterproof, but once again IMHO, you'll have electrical gremlins biting you in the ass for a long as you own that truck. I'd sit down and have a "coming to Jesus meeting" with your insurance agent and tell him thanks but no thanks.
Jay

 

[yillbs]

IMHO--and there are a lot of guys on here with a lot more knowledge than I have, but I think if you let them repair your truck, even with a new engine, if you had that much water in and around the motor, and around lots of electrical connections, I'd be bailing out(sorry) of that truck ASAP. Water and electricity don't mix very well however some will say that the connections are suppose to be waterproof, but once again IMHO, you'll have electrical gremlins biting you in the ass for a long as you own that truck. I'd sit down and have a "coming to Jesus meeting" with your insurance agent and tell him thanks but no thanks.
Jay

I agree, however; that's kind of the issue. I don't know how to " bail out ". I asked them to total it, and they said after all my add-ons that the cost to repair was less than 45% of the total cost of what the ACV of the truck is. I guess i'm asking if there even is anything I can do to avoid it, or if I should even be worried about avoiding it.

 

[WilliamS]

Im with Jay, Id be out of that truck instantly.

I would call the adjuster and ask him how to guarantee against any corossion in the harnesses, dash components, mold in the carpet and seat foam, and transmission?

Ask point blank, how far away from a total loss is it, and have them reinspect the truck.

 

[cbsmith]

yiu Want to get out of that truck ASAP, before the damage hits car fax, as it will bring the value down to just about zero. No one wants to buy a flood truck. It will be a nightmare of problems.

 

[yillbs]

Im with Jay, Id be out of that truck instantly.

I would call the adjuster and ask him how to guarantee against any corossion in the harnesses, dash components, mold in the carpet and seat foam, and transmission?

Ask point blank, how far away from a total loss is it, and have them reinspect the truck.

so, I've tried that. I get told " I don't know ". Or , " Someone will call you with more information ". I spoke to the dealer earlier today and they said it should have never been attempted to be started. The transmi

yiu Want to get out of that truck ASAP, before the damage hits car fax, as it will bring the value down to just about zero. No one wants to buy a flood truck. It will be a nightmare of problems.

I understand, but when the insurance company wants to fix it, you can't just say no thanks. At least, I don't think you can. Hence my coming here to ask questions. I've never been in a situation like this and was hoping for some feedback as to the best course of action.

 

[WilliamS]

Keep calling up the chain. As well if they force a fix and keep tell them you want 100% of the depreciated value in a check


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[yillbs]

Keep calling up the chain. As well if they force a fix and keep tell them you want 100% of the depreciated value in a check


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Texas doesn't have depreciated value for the 1st party. If i were in an accident and it was't my insurance having to pay, then i'd be eligible, however; because i caused the accident, and it's my insurance, i'm not entitled. One of the few times it doesnt pay to live in texas

 

[WilliamS]

Texas doesn't have depreciated value for the 1st party. If i were in an accident and it was't my insurance having to pay, then i'd be eligible, however; because i caused the accident, and it's my insurance, i'm not intitled. One of the few times it doesnt pay to live in texas

Didnt even think of that. Well maybe the place your truck is at gets hit by a natural disaster?


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[zrfraser]

Can you get a second opinion and talk with the second opinion before hand?

 

[yillbs]

Can you get a second opinion and talk with the second opinion before hand?

I thought abou thtat, but here is my reasoning as to why I didn't / don't think i really should? Dodge dealers aren't really part of the " progressive " network. I.E they wanted to send it to a provider in their network, I demanded it goes to the dealer. In a case like this, the dealer themselves have no reason to screw me, they will do as much as they can as they are getting a huge pay day. Or at least, that's my logic. Progressive tells me my truck will be covered ( whatever they pay for ) for the entire life I have the truck. I'm down with having someone else look at it, but do you really think the dealer wouldn't be in my best interest in a case where it's not warranty?

 

[monteholic]

tell them you want a bump to bumper, iron clad, no questions asked warranty

or as soon as its repaired... trade, sell but find some way to dump it

 

[yillbs]

tell them you want a bump to bumper, iron clad, no questions asked warranty

or as soon as its repaired... trade, sell but find some way to dump it

I think that's the route I'd like to take, either of those. I'm down with getting it fixed, then dumping it. However; without diminished value in texas, i'm going to take a massive massive loss. Has anyone else that you know of, or, potentially on the forums ever gotten a warranty like this from an insurance company after something like this happens?

 

[TRCM]

Funny how if they are paying you money, they will not include the value of the add ons.....but now they are using those add ons to hold the value high enough to not have to total it.

 

[monteholic]

and when you go to trade it in...those "add-ons" reduce the value too

 

[Pull Ya]

^^^^^ Good point
Jay

 

[FCA Master]

I think that's the route I'd like to take, either of those. I'm down with getting it fixed, then dumping it. However; without diminished value in texas, i'm going to take a massive massive loss. Has anyone else that you know of, or, potentially on the forums ever gotten a warranty like this from an insurance company after something like this happens?

Talk to the dealership. I am a deal tech and my job is to find what is wrong and let you, or in this case, the insurance company know so a decision can be made on repairs. Having been in that much water the transmission has probably taken water in through the vent causing issues. The same with the diffs and transfer case. Even weatherpack connectors are not designed to keep water out when submerged so electrical issues will eventually make themselves known.

What part of Texas are you in?

 

[huntergreen]

Did I read correctly, they are including your add one into the value of the truck? Doesn't seem right.

 

[yillbs]

Talk to the dealership. I am a deal tech and my job is to find what is wrong and let you, or in this case, the insurance company know so a decision can be made on repairs. Having been in that much water the transmission has probably taken water in through the vent causing issues. The same with the diffs and transfer case. Even weatherpack connectors are not designed to keep water out when submerged so electrical issues will eventually make themselves known.

What part of Texas are you in?

Hmm, maybe they will end up totaling it after it's all said and done. The dealer doesn't have an estimate yet, they are still looking at it. I'm in the Bryan College Station area. It's just in between Houston and Austin.

 

[yillbs]

Did I read correctly, they are including your add one into the value of the truck? Doesn't seem right.

Yes you read correctly. As long as the item is attached to the truck permanetely, then it's going towards the actual value of the truck. A dealer can disregard these items on a trade, but when you're dealing with actual cash value. Long as you have the receipt, they have to honor the cost that was paid, up until the truck/car was totaled and / or damaged. Granted, they factor in depreciation.