Hydrolocked LS3
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,362
Likes: 3
From: Delray Beach FL
Hydrolocked LS3
Puddle was a little too deep for my 08. Was about 6 inches deep, but the puddle won. Motor cut right off...wouldn't start up. I took the air intake hose off and a good amount of water poured out of the TB. 
Called my insurance company to have it towed to my local performance shop and to place a claim. Warranty won't cover, due to Callaway Honker intake. Not even going to try. Not a great way to start off the day.
Those that have hydrolocked an LS motor, what type of damage is generally done? Thanks.
Called my insurance company to have it towed to my local performance shop and to place a claim. Warranty won't cover, due to Callaway Honker intake. Not even going to try. Not a great way to start off the day. Those that have hydrolocked an LS motor, what type of damage is generally done? Thanks.
Last edited by QuikZilver; Mar 18, 2009 at 09:25 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,433
Likes: 873
From: Bay Area CA
Puddle was a little too deep for my 08. Was about 6 inches deep, but the puddle won. Motor cut right off...wouldn't start up. I took the air intake hose off and a good amount of water poured out of the TB. Called my insurance company to have it towed to my local performance shop and to place a claim. Warranty won't cover, due to Callaway Honker intake. Not even going to try...unless my insurance doesn't cover, then I guess I'll buy a new shroud and have the shop put it back to factory and pay for towing to the dealer. Not a great way to start off the day.
Those that have hydrolocked an LS motor, what type of damage is generally done? Thanks.
Called my insurance company to have it towed to my local performance shop and to place a claim. Warranty won't cover, due to Callaway Honker intake. Not even going to try...unless my insurance doesn't cover, then I guess I'll buy a new shroud and have the shop put it back to factory and pay for towing to the dealer. Not a great way to start off the day. Those that have hydrolocked an LS motor, what type of damage is generally done? Thanks.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 418
Likes: 3
From: Fallsington PA
Water def wont compress, but I would still pull the plugs and try cranking it and see if you can pump some water out of it. Ive hydrolocked my racecar with fuel before and didnt hurt anything.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
Puddle was a little too deep for my 08. Was about 6 inches deep, but the puddle won. Motor cut right off...wouldn't start up. I took the air intake hose off and a good amount of water poured out of the TB. Called my insurance company to have it towed to my local performance shop and to place a claim. Warranty won't cover, due to Callaway Honker intake. Not even going to try...unless my insurance doesn't cover, then I guess I'll buy a new shroud and have the shop put it back to factory and pay for towing to the dealer. Not a great way to start off the day.
Those that have hydrolocked an LS motor, what type of damage is generally done? Thanks.
Called my insurance company to have it towed to my local performance shop and to place a claim. Warranty won't cover, due to Callaway Honker intake. Not even going to try...unless my insurance doesn't cover, then I guess I'll buy a new shroud and have the shop put it back to factory and pay for towing to the dealer. Not a great way to start off the day. Those that have hydrolocked an LS motor, what type of damage is generally done? Thanks.
For what purpose? Why not just take it to the dealer as is?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 14
This same thing happened to me years ago when I had my 5.7 Iroc. Ran though a huge puddle and BOOM. Total lock. Wouldn't even crank over, just bang, bang when you turned it over, the starter couldn't budge it. I sat all night, pulled 3 plugs and there was very little water. After about 35-40 tries, it started to turn over. 5 or 6 more and it started, next day, ran perfect.
Did the same thing to my wife's Mazdaspeed6 huge, puddle, starting smoking and boom. Shut right off. Next day, I took off the MAF and cai tube, dried it out, ran perfect.
Water never got to the rings on the Mazda, but on the Iroc, it was near death but I got lucky.
I have seen guys pull the plugs, spray pentrating oil in overnight and have it turn over and start the next day. Or, your shortblock is toast. Good luck though, serriously.
Did the same thing to my wife's Mazdaspeed6 huge, puddle, starting smoking and boom. Shut right off. Next day, I took off the MAF and cai tube, dried it out, ran perfect.
Water never got to the rings on the Mazda, but on the Iroc, it was near death but I got lucky.
I have seen guys pull the plugs, spray pentrating oil in overnight and have it turn over and start the next day. Or, your shortblock is toast. Good luck though, serriously.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
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The thread was complete with pics of the hole in the engine block, and was deleted shortly after it was posted up.
Warranty is not going to cover it anyway.
His insurance company might possibly cover it. But I certainly would not alter or tamper with the car at all, ie attempt to take it back to stock, before contacting them and filing an insurance claim.
Insurance fraud is serious business.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,233
Likes: 119
From: Short Hills, NJ
Warranty is not going to cover it anyway.
His insurance company might possibly cover it. But I certainly would not alter or tamper with the car at all, ie attempt to take it back to stock, before contacting them and filing an insurance claim.
Insurance fraud is serious business.
His insurance company might possibly cover it. But I certainly would not alter or tamper with the car at all, ie attempt to take it back to stock, before contacting them and filing an insurance claim.
Insurance fraud is serious business.
Not to come off like a preaching, goody two shoes or anything but this is not the time to be passing off driver error/mistakes onto GM's warranty system. 
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Insurance will cover it under you comprehensive policy... you warranty doesn't cover hydrolock even when 100% OEM stock.
How fast were you going when you hit this puddle? I've driven Corvettes going on 10 years now w/ CAIs on all of them. When it's raining hard you slow down. If you see a deep puddle, turn around!
Even w/ the stock intake you can flood the car.
How fast were you going when you hit this puddle? I've driven Corvettes going on 10 years now w/ CAIs on all of them. When it's raining hard you slow down. If you see a deep puddle, turn around!
Even w/ the stock intake you can flood the car.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I hydrolocked my VW Scirrocco motor many years ago in an overflowing creek. Plugged the plugs, blew it all out, dried the plugs and she fired up. Steamed a whole lot but ran.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 418
Likes: 3
From: Fallsington PA
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,362
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From: Delray Beach FL
I just had it towed over to the performance shop. They are going to take a look at it. When it locked, it would not start back up at all..starter isn't doing anything. I understand about the warranty issue as stated above. My first post, I was a little frustrated, but it will not be at a GM dealership for warranty work. I will have the shop repair the damage. I was at a very low speed (at most 10mph) and tried coasting through the puddle...ie foot off of gas, engine at idle. But, that didn't help. I'd say there was a good 1/4 cup of water that poured out of the throttle body, when I removed the air intake tube. As for CAI's, I have run them on other Corvettes (C4 and C5) I have owned and other cars and this is the first time I have ever had something like this happen. I'll keep you all posted as to the damage they find, if they find any.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 2
From: Westlake Village, Ca
sux to hear about your issues...
I would for sure make it completely stock and I mean if you cut your shroud buy a new one and take it back over there , you got nothing to lose that this point ...its your money , maybe they take the bait...
BTW this is why I dont do Honker , varaam etc.. Just too risky...IMO
Nevermind just realized you took it to your perf shop already , either way GOOD LUCK MAN!
I would for sure make it completely stock and I mean if you cut your shroud buy a new one and take it back over there , you got nothing to lose that this point ...its your money , maybe they take the bait...
BTW this is why I dont do Honker , varaam etc.. Just too risky...IMO
Nevermind just realized you took it to your perf shop already , either way GOOD LUCK MAN!
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,233
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From: Short Hills, NJ
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I believe it was just 3-4 days ago that Callaway rep posted that there's never been a claim made, nor any correspondence to them re hydrolocking. It's too bad it happened.
SUBVETTE
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 93
From: San Diego CA
Just because the starter isn't doing anything dsoesn't mean you did severe engine damage. The starter would have been under water too and probably got wet enough to short out. I would dry out the starter and pull the plugs and turn it over. You may be just fine.
As to trying to play footsie with the dealer, I am a prude also and don't believe it's to your or anybody's interest to attempt fraud.
As to trying to play footsie with the dealer, I am a prude also and don't believe it's to your or anybody's interest to attempt fraud.