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Post by keithbatkins on Dec 27, 2011 18:59:42 GMT 2
CERATOTH has just been caught in a flash flood and is underwater.....yes really under water. Was going OK until the cars in front and behind stalled and with no way out I just had to sit there until the water reached the top of the dashboard. That was when I bailed out. Sat by the side of the road on the high bank and watched the water reach the roof rack. That was about 30 minutes ago and after a change of clothes I am going back to see what can be done. Question.....do you think CERATOTH can be saved ? Regards to all at LOCSA, Keith and CERATOTH (RIP)
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spikes
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Post by spikes on Dec 27, 2011 19:24:12 GMT 2
Hi Keith So sorry to hear about this. Yes, the car can be saved. Do not attempt to start it at all. Drain engine oil and remove sparkplugs. Turn engine by hand to get water out. Tow home. will probably need a new battery. Dry out wiring looms with hair dryer. Refill with oil and fit sparkplugs try to start. If it starts shut down have as beer or two then tomorrow drain oil from gearbox, TC and both diffs. Good luck!! Spikes
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Post by Charles on Dec 27, 2011 19:35:31 GMT 2
Hi Keith
Im sorry to hear that! As Spikes said yes it can be saved. You should also rince everything with clean water. I have seen cars that was completely covered in water and got saved completely.
I will be hoping for the best.
Charles
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dimitris
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Post by dimitris on Dec 27, 2011 20:11:25 GMT 2
Hi KeithI'm sorry to hear that!!!!! Good luck!! I will be hoping for the best!!!! Dimitris
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Post by keithbatkins on Dec 27, 2011 20:13:48 GMT 2
Thanks Guys for giving me hope. Went back to CERATOTH. All water gone....except for in the car ! Put key into ignition.....dashboard lights came on and CERATOTH started first time. Drove home slowly...parked up and will start drying out tomorrow. I only hope that by starting I haven't screwed everything up. (I only read your post just now Spikes :-( ) Regards to all at LOCSA from a very 'damp' CERATOTH and a very miserable Keith.
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hoodoo
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Post by hoodoo on Dec 27, 2011 20:19:51 GMT 2
Excellent job!! That is a motor that DESERVES to be saved!! Regards, John
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Post by ronnie on Dec 27, 2011 20:29:33 GMT 2
Hi Keith
Very bad news indeed. You were very lucky being able to start it without doing damage. Dry everything out, use a hair dryer as you can get into everything with it. Change all the oils and filters, and pay particular attention to all electrical componants. Most relays you can prise open and dry them nicely. It will take you some time to do it properly but it will be worth it as any water left inside a relay will come back later to bite you. Good luck.
Ronnie
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Post by Charles on Dec 27, 2011 20:41:30 GMT 2
Fantastic Keith.
Charles
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dimitris
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Post by dimitris on Dec 27, 2011 20:52:43 GMT 2
Hi Keith Very bad news indeed. You were very lucky being able to start it without doing damage. Dry everything out, use a hair dryer as you can get into everything with it. Change all the oils and filters, and pay particular attention to all electrical componants. Most relays you can prise open and dry them nicely. It will take you some time to do it properly but it will be worth it as any water left inside a relay will come back later to bite you. Good luck. Ronnie ..... + 1000You must necessarily doing a very good general control before you use the car again. Good luck.
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spikes
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Post by spikes on Dec 28, 2011 6:39:57 GMT 2
Hi Keith, good news indeed!! A name change may be in order:) Terrapin comes to mind. Suggest that you change oils/filters etc incl air filter. Then you need to get water out of double cavities. At least it was not salt water. Good luck! Spikes
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Post by danie on Dec 28, 2011 6:51:24 GMT 2
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Post by marius on Dec 28, 2011 9:41:14 GMT 2
Close shave there Keith! I am very glad you managed to save Ceratoth. I think the main thing to remember in a situation like that is NOT TO START the car whilst the exhaust is still under water. I can almost safely say that you can change the topic to something a little bit more positive now! ;D Marius
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90ladaniva
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Post by 90ladaniva on Dec 28, 2011 14:02:44 GMT 2
Hi Keith ,I was just reading what happened to you and boy oh boy it wasnt a good day for you at all mate .It is how ever great that your niva started after all that water got into every thing like it did as one would tend to think that the motor would be full of water after that so best of luck cleaning and drying things out but good news in the end is that the niva can be saved and that is what really matters .Good Luck ,Cheers Trev .
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spikes
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Post by spikes on Dec 28, 2011 15:56:26 GMT 2
Hi keith you should consider changing the brakefluid as well (both brake and clutch). There will be water in the fluid Rgds Spikes
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Post by keithbatkins on Dec 28, 2011 16:07:53 GMT 2
Thanks guys for the support. Busy taking everthing apart to try and get rid of the water. Water, water everwhere (and not a drop to drink !) Taking the headlights out I found Ari's hydraulic adjusting system. Like new....and not connected to anything.....there is nothing behind the blanking off plate on the dasboard to connect it up to. I have jacked up CERATOTH on all four jacking points for about an hour at a time and the water seems to be running out OK.....thanks heavens for wet/dry vacuum cleaners. Sony CD player is in pieces on the coffee table...I think that this may well be the one part that will have to be written off. Will drain the engine oil tomorrow when CERATOTH is back on the flat and level and will then refill and refit filters etc and try and start her. Questions (as always).....should I replace the alternator and starter motor. I would rather do it now than face problems in a few weeks/months time. Already 'getting stick' from certain quarters after my stupidity and if CERATOTH breaks down when out and about I will never hear the end of it. Pressure is already building to take an insurance payout and to then buy something 'reliable' ie Japanese ! Regards to all at LOCSA, Keith and a 'slightly damp' CERATOTH. Sticking with the name (although I do like Terrapin) as the letters have stayed stuck on despite the deluge.
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Post by marius on Dec 28, 2011 16:51:25 GMT 2
Hi Keith Tell the one "giving stick" that any other car would have been in far more serious trouble in the same situation. Fortunately for the Niva - not too many electronics that could drown as was the case with the Japanese CD player! The alternator should be fine and I suspect the starter might have survived the ordeal. Concentrate on the air intakes, like the air filter. I would also check the oil in the diffs/TC and gearbox for water contamination. The breathers could have easily sucked water into the boxes due the temperature difference. Best of luck Keith Marius
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Post by keithbatkins on Dec 28, 2011 17:29:32 GMT 2
Thanks Marius. I am going to change all of the fluids just to be on the safe side. Air filter already changed as the 'old one' was a wee bit on the damp side. Oil filter and plugs will also be changed. I don't think that I will bother with (Ari's) hydraulic headlight adjusters as I am in enough 'bother' as it is at the moment ! Regards to all at LOCSA. Keith and 'slightly drier' CERATOTH
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Post by Charles on Dec 28, 2011 17:49:09 GMT 2
Hi Keith
At least it survived. Drying everything out will take time.
Charles
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RATEL
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Post by RATEL on Dec 29, 2011 8:50:56 GMT 2
WEL DONE KEITH!!! Viva Niva!!!
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Post by keithbatkins on Dec 29, 2011 12:39:04 GMT 2
Thanks again guys for the support. ALUTA CONTINUA Replaced blown headlight globes which was a real pain as I had fitted the electric fan to the front of the grill....which should be removed to undo the headlights. Discovered that a previous globe replacement by persons unknown meant that the small washers which prevent the bolts from slipping through the holes in the chrome surround had not been replaced. Crome surrounds being held in place by in effect only one bolt. Will buy small washers tomorrow and will try again.
Drained engine oil....actually no. Made huge mistake in reading the manual and had drained gearbox oil. Not a problem just refill. How in 'all that is holy' do you get to undo the fill plug on the side? You just cannot get in with any type of socket spanner/allenkey. I finally did it using a 'mole grip' and will have to get a new plug and correct gearbox oil again tomorrow hopefully; when I can get to use the Chrysler to go LADA shopping ! A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY READERS those that haven't got bored to death yet ;D Keith and 'drained' CERATOTH
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Post by marius on Dec 29, 2011 13:07:32 GMT 2
Hi Keith
The filler plug on the gearbox is on the left side. You can undo it with a 17 ring spanner between the front prop shaft and the gearbox. Can be very tight but you should crack it with a good ring spanner.
Good luck Marius
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Post by keithbatkins on Dec 29, 2011 14:29:28 GMT 2
Thanks Marius. I've got a full set of Britool spanners so should be OK. So what is the aluminium plug with the recessed (about 17mm) hexagonal socket on the righthand side of the gearbox when you are looking at the NIVA from the rear. This means that it is on the lefthand side when viewed from the front. This is the plug that I have removed and it seems to be positioned higher than the other (filler) plug on the opposite side ? Regards to all, Keith and a very confused CERATOTH.
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Post by marius on Dec 29, 2011 14:43:35 GMT 2
Hi Keith
I have no idea what that plug is all about. All I know it is also tapered and the size according to the manual is 28x1.5. The filler plug is on the left and the size is 22x1.5. If you fill the gearbox through that plug on the left you should get about 1.3 liters of oil into the box. You probably need 5 liters to fill the box if you use the one on the right! ;D
Marius
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Post by danie on Dec 29, 2011 17:25:44 GMT 2
Hi Marius / Keith
Apart from the Lada gearbox filler plug (which is located at the left of the Lada gearbox), the Lada gearbox housing is an exact replica of the Fiat 124 / 125 gearbox.
The Fiat 124 / 125 gearbox Housings do not have the filler plug at the left of the Housing (like the Lada gearbox) - the filler plug is located on the right, at the exact spot where the big plugs are located at the Lada gearboxes.
I assume the Russians initially planned to use exact copies of the Fiat 124 / 125 gearbox Housings on Ladas -, but eventually realized that the position of the filler plug makes it impossible to use the ( filler) plug on a Lada. Therefore I think the additional filler plug has probably been located at the left of the Lada Gearbox, for practical reasons.
Danie
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Post by keithbatkins on Dec 29, 2011 18:06:29 GMT 2
Thanks for that Danie. What the Rusians hadn't counted on was an idiot like me who didn't read the manual, assumed that the 'big plug' was the filler plug and thinking that I did not have the correct tool to undo it (large size allenkey) decided 'to make a plan' and undid it using mole grips ! Thanks to Marius I am now much wiser and managed to undo the proper filler plug on the 'other side' :-) The good new is that by doing back up the correct plug and using the hole of the wrong plug I was able to put in 1.5ltrs of gearbox oil with no real effort or problems. (Used a funnel and a long piece of plastic tubing.) Managed to put the wrong plug back in without (I hope) stripping the threads as it's very soft aluminium and just gave it a couple of very gentle 'tweaks' with the mole wrench. Tomorrow the battery goes back in and if CERATOTH starts up OK I shall give her a short run to see if there are any gearbox leaks. Then it's on with the rest of the drying out and remedial/service items. All in all an interesting day.....and one which I do not intend to repeat. Memo to self....read the manual and/or check with the Forum Experts before picking up any type of tool ! Regards to all at LOCSA, Keith and CERATOTH.
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darryn
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Post by darryn on Dec 29, 2011 18:17:21 GMT 2
Jis, I laughed when I read that you just turned the key and drove off. Your Niva should now be named "cherepakha", which means Turtle in Russian. Really glad your little soldier isn't buggered.
Peace.
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spikes
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Post by spikes on Dec 29, 2011 19:02:40 GMT 2
cherepakha= terrapin=cherepakha" Thanks for the support Darryn
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Post by ronnie on Dec 29, 2011 19:36:12 GMT 2
Hi Keith I note you said the fan was fitted to the outside of the grill. It should be as close as possible to the radiator core without rubbing against it. This applies no matter which side of the core the fan is fitted to. I don`t have a picture without the grill but you can see them here. Ronnie
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ladanivabelgium
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Post by ladanivabelgium on Dec 30, 2011 6:08:04 GMT 2
keith, you could ask a body shop to put your niva in a paint booth. Heat it up to +- 70°C and let it sit there for a few hours
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Post by danie on Dec 30, 2011 6:32:49 GMT 2
Hi Keith
I would also remove the panels ( "rust traps ") behind the front wheels as well .
If you have not removed the dust which usually get stuck there before, you will now find that the dust has become mud, and it will take quite a while before all the moist will disappear.
Danie
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