C5 engine siezed!!!
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5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
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C5 engine siezed!!!
I was driving in the rain and went through a puddle. The car started acting up and i drove it home. Had it towed to the dealer. They said it had gotten water in the intake and the engine was siezed. To me this is crazy...I can't drive my vette in the rain? Anyone else heard of this?Design problem? This shouldn't happen should it?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
It's a Corvette, yes it's name came from a maritime vessel, but a ship it is not.
The intake can and will suck water when submerged or if you hit a decent size puddle at speed.
If dealer won't cover it your insurance will under comprehensive policy.... warranty doesn't cover this type of stuff.
The intake can and will suck water when submerged or if you hit a decent size puddle at speed.
If dealer won't cover it your insurance will under comprehensive policy.... warranty doesn't cover this type of stuff.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,970
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From: San Marcos Texas
If you were able to drive the car home after the puddle then the motor was not seized...Maybe a broken piston. But I don't see how a stock car going through a 1" of water could possibly get water in the intake of the engine... How well do you trust that dealer...
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Originally Posted by mfrejek
They are pulling your chain. Suckin down water may shut you down, but it's not going to seize the motor. 
These cars a very prone to hydroloc.... ingesting a qt of water will break this motor.
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Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
If you were driving through "normal" puddles and this happened, then I would question it with the stock intake. I have had three different intakes and have driven through monsoon type of downpours with no problem and the return from Carlisle this year was a prime example.
What year is the car?
What year is the car?
Le Mans Master
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From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
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Cruise-In V Veteran
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
You obviously know nothing about a C5.
These cars a very prone to hydroloc.... ingesting a qt of water will break this motor.
These cars a very prone to hydroloc.... ingesting a qt of water will break this motor.
-and he ought to know- he helped design these flaws.
Sorry Bill, I just had to be a smart azz. I recently bought a Z06 engine (for parts) that had rod #7 go through the block because of this.
Le Mans Master
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From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
Senior Member
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Originally Posted by vettenuts
If you were driving through "normal" puddles and this happened, then I would question it with the stock intake. I have driven through monsoon type of downpours with no problem and the return from Carlisle was a prime example.
I've driven through hell and (not so) high water with my stock Z06 intake without a hick up.
Le Mans Master
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From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
Senior Member
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Originally Posted by NJ Carpenter
I was driving in the rain and went through a puddle. The car started acting up and i drove it home. Had it towed to the dealer. They said it had gotten water in the intake and the engine was siezed.
Le Mans Master
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From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
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Originally Posted by vettenuts
Maybe you should contact the regional GM rep, this is a brand new car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Rehoboth MA . . . NRA Life Member
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Originally Posted by chriswtx
If you were able to drive the car home after the puddle then the motor was not seized...Maybe a broken piston. But I don't see how a stock car going through a 1" of water could possibly get water in the intake of the engine... How well do you trust that dealer...
.....I smell a heap of BS here If you drove the car then common sense must prevail and by all logic was not seized. Could you have damaged the engine, of course, but you must get enough water in a cylinder to cause hydraulic lock.
I think the car got very wet and it needs to dry out.....Trust No One...
Last edited by BobbyG; Sep 25, 2006 at 09:20 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,004
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From: West Chester, Pa
If you drove it home, the engine is not seized. But it is very likely that you may have bent a connecting rod, damaged rings, etc. Under those conditions your engine could still run, very poorly though.
It will not be covered under GMs warranty, you need to go though your car insurance. When you claim these types of things an insurance agent will go to the dealer to inspect damages to make sure there is no funny stuff going on. The only bad part about this is that your insurance will find any way to save a dime. If there is no block damage, they may make the dealer only replace the damaged connecting rod and try and reuse as many things as they can. This is the wrong way to do things IMO.
Its easier to hydrolock an engine than you think.
It will not be covered under GMs warranty, you need to go though your car insurance. When you claim these types of things an insurance agent will go to the dealer to inspect damages to make sure there is no funny stuff going on. The only bad part about this is that your insurance will find any way to save a dime. If there is no block damage, they may make the dealer only replace the damaged connecting rod and try and reuse as many things as they can. This is the wrong way to do things IMO.
Its easier to hydrolock an engine than you think.
Race Director
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by madeouttaglass
GM will probably not help. It's worth a try, but if they don't you should try your comprehensive coverage.
Sounds like insurance is his only bet.
Abby Normal
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Press "2" for English
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
These cars a very prone to hydroloc.... ingesting a qt of water will break this motor.
