Kevrav Is Dead

[Daveyonthemove]

I would suspect that hitting deep water at 30mph would explain how water got in there.

Its going to be forced up the air intake at great speed as well as the engine sucking at the same time.

Sorry to hear your car has been written off, but I think 80% of the issue was down to your own bad judgement. Even if it was a puddle, you risked causing an accident due to aqua plaining or one side of the car slowing abruptly.

In future, try to drive slowly and follow a bow wave from the front of the car, or alternatively avoid the water.

[webleymk3]

I would suspect that hitting deep water at 30mph would explain how water got in there.

Its going to be forced up the air intake at great speed as well as the engine sucking at the same time.

Sorry to hear your car has been written off, but I think 80% of the issue was down to your own bad judgement. Even if it was a puddle, you risked causing an accident due to aqua plaining or one side of the car slowing abruptly.

In future, try to drive slowly and follow a bow wave from the front of the car, or alternatively avoid the water.

Ok mate. Couple of things on that one.... hitting water at 30mph in a Rav4 really ought to be childs play for it. I think i said it was about 1 foot deep. i'll correct that. it was just over the height of the curb.

I'll grant you that i misjudged it but the Rav ought to have been ok. The air intake is tucked in nice and safe between the outer panel and the engine bay. The wheel arch and the under protector should have kept it relatively dry. Something failed, i'm sure of it.

I got caught out in my dad's Nissan Pathfinder once. i was travelling at 55-60mph at night and hit a much larger 'lake' which at standstill was up to the door sill. It was dark, the roads were shiny and wet and it was in a dip in the road. The road was complete straight and i didn't see it until i was in it... straight through and out the other side without hesitation. i know the Rav isn't the same size as a Pathfinder, but it should have been fine...

Go and look on Youtube. you'll see loads of people driving through rivers without any problems in Rav 4s.

Anyone know where the air intake is on the Auris???

[Daveyonthemove]

Hitting water at 30mph is like hitting a solid object, and that is going to hit all angles of the engine bay, and probably dislodge something, and the sucking of the engine under acceleration is going to take water into the engine.

Having done many off road driving courses (Winter driving in Norway, 4x4 driving at many off road facilities in lorries and land rovers) I'm well aware of what a 4x4 is capable of, but they are only going to perform if used in the correct fashion. I've never been instructed to hit deep water at 30mph, and would never dream of doing this anyway, as water can be a dangerous obstacle in the road when hit at speed. You were niave to think that you could drive into water fast and not do damage!

As i said earlier, you go in slow and follow the bow wave to create a shallow area at the front of the engine, minimising the chance of sucking in water.

As for your reference to youtube videos, I have looked and have not seen any smashing into water at 30mph, all of them are crossing at a steady speed behind the wave.

As for the air intake on the Auris, I know exactly where it is. What relevance is this?

[webleymk3]

I've already acknowledged it was an accident. i didn't intentionally do it... the discussions here have been surrounding the fact the Rav ought to have been ok. It don't care what you're taught on off-road driving courses. The fact remains that it was an accident and the car should have been fine.

Try and be a little more constructive when joining a forum discussion regarding someone loosing their car due to £12k damage...

[Daveyonthemove]

As i have said, I'm sorry to hear your car was written off (Genuinely), but I seem to be the only person who can see the problem... your driving!

Sorry if that is harsh, but if you don't know a road that well, you take your time on it. If you do know a road well, you drive according to the hazards you know.

You claim that something was wrong for the water to reach the air intake, and i'm pointing out the fact that water hitting the plastic trim at 30mph will be more than enough force to move or break it, and allow the water to seep into the intake. Sorry if you don't like reading this, but you can't assume that because you drive a 4x4 you can drive through any obstacle at any speed, as this isn't the case.

Again, sorry for your loss but at least your insurance are willing to cover it, so there is a silver lining after all.

For the record (because you asked), the Air intake on My Auris (others may be different) is just below the top of the radiator, and pointing towards the back of the car to minimise water ingress. I still won't try a river crossing though ;)

[Davrav]

As i have said, I'm sorry to hear your car was written off (Genuinely), but I seem to be the only person who can see the problem... your driving!

Sorry if that is harsh, but if you don't know a road that well, you take your time on it. If you do know a road well, you drive according to the hazards you know.

You claim that something was wrong for the water to reach the air intake, and i'm pointing out the fact that water hitting the plastic trim at 30mph will be more than enough force to move or break it, and allow the water to seep into the intake. Sorry if you don't like reading this, but you can't assume that because you drive a 4x4 you can drive through any obstacle at any speed, as this isn't the case.

Again, sorry for your loss but at least your insurance are willing to cover it, so there is a silver lining after all.

For the record (because you asked), the Air intake on My Auris (others may be different) is just below the top of the radiator, and pointing towards the back of the car to minimise water ingress. I still won't try a river crossing though ;)

In defence of Webley's driving I have to say that, over many years and miles of driving I have, on occasion and in different cars, inadvertently and unintentionally, hit standing water at speeds in excess of 30mph and never drowned an engine.

[webleymk3]

As i have said, I'm sorry to hear your car was written off (Genuinely), but I seem to be the only person who can see the problem... your driving!

Sorry if that is harsh, but if you don't know a road that well, you take your time on it. If you do know a road well, you drive according to the hazards you know.

You claim that something was wrong for the water to reach the air intake, and i'm pointing out the fact that water hitting the plastic trim at 30mph will be more than enough force to move or break it, and allow the water to seep into the intake. Sorry if you don't like reading this, but you can't assume that because you drive a 4x4 you can drive through any obstacle at any speed, as this isn't the case.

Again, sorry for your loss but at least your insurance are willing to cover it, so there is a silver lining after all.

For the record (because you asked), the Air intake on My Auris (others may be different) is just below the top of the radiator, and pointing towards the back of the car to minimise water ingress. I still won't try a river crossing though ;)

In defence of Webley's driving I have to say that, over many years and miles of driving I have, on occasion and in different cars, inadvertently and unintentionally, hit standing water at speeds in excess of 30mph and never drowned an engine.

Ditto....

[bothwell_buyer]

I once drove over a cattle grid at 28mph and suffered no damage. It wasn't waterlogged at the time mind you.

I'd always considered hitting standing water at high speed risked wrecking the front suspension.

[jedi134]

I would buy the car back, you can buy it back at salvage value from the insurance company before it gets auctioned off for more, you can buy a 2nd hand engine for 1-2k . you will have your car back at half even less of the price you paid for it. Insurance companys live in a world of their own. :ffs:

My 4.2 rav got rear ended, insurance wrote it off quoting 9k of repair work

Anyway I thought bllx looking at the car no way 9k of damage.

Insurance paid me out 1k more than what I paid for the car a year prevoius.

I bought back car for 2k, labour 1.5k, parts £500 I now have my rav back in its origional condition for half the price. Only downside its on a cat D now.

As for the water getting into your engine, my guess is a combination of high revs and hitting the water hard dislodged a part of the air intake, and the engine hoovered up the spray somehow.

Anyway its only an engine replacement, 2k max for new engine, have a look on eBay.

Ask how much to buy the rav back ,I may take it myself.

[webleymk3]

I would buy the car back, you can buy it back at salvage value from the insurance company before it gets auctioned off for more, you can buy a 2nd hand engine for 1-2k . you will have your car back at half even less of the price you paid for it. Insurance companys live in a world of their own. :ffs:

My 4.2 rav got rear ended, insurance wrote it off quoting 9k of repair work

Anyway I thought bllx looking at the car no way 9k of damage.

Insurance paid me out 1k more than what I paid for the car a year prevoius.

I bought back car for 2k, labour 1.5k, parts £500 I now have my rav back in its origional condition for half the price. Only downside its on a cat D now.

As for the water getting into your engine, my guess is a combination of high revs and hitting the water hard dislodged a part of the air intake, and the engine hoovered up the spray somehow.

Anyway its only an engine replacement, 2k max for new engine, have a look on ebay.

Ask how much to buy the rav back ,I may take it myself.

The plan is to take the money and the car. My brother-in- law wants to repair it. If he changes his mind I'll let you know.

[rambler]

Went thru a 'puddle' today. Turned out to be a rather deep flood. Water went straight in thru the air intake. Wouldnt even turn over. Green flag guy reckons the whole engine has seized. Not happy.

Insurance company called. Should be covered. Might be a right off tho!!!

Will keep the forum posted.

Sad day... :(

That must have been one deep 'puddle'..............What speed were you travelling?

Hey Guys,i go off road farely regular in mine....dont forget the rav4 has a wading depth of 400mm i believe....but .....yes hitting serious water at 30mph..aint good...just take it slow & steady.

Sorry to hear about the engine,i really wish that intake could be re directed to a higher point in the engine bay,or an after market extension made....you can get them for suzuki vitara's & jimneys,even raised air intakes..why not for rav4 ???..most annoying.

[anchorman]

I've hit puddles (read that as ponds) at more than 30 resulting in walls of water coming over the bonnet. If there really wasn't anything detached then it really was incredible bad luck for enough water to get through the air filter. There is quite a large cavity under the air filter and the filter itself would stop a fair bit.

Of course the cause is driving through the water but I don't accept it was negligent. What are you supposed to do, get out and measure the depth of every puddle? Look on youtube - there are loads of clips of these things being romped through swamps.

[redlew]

How does the buyback work ? You paid (say) £20k for the car a few years ago. Before your accident it was worth £9k (say). Repair cost>£9k. In current state you could sell it for (say) £3k. So does insurance co pay you £9k and oyu pay them £3K? So if you can get the repairs done yourself for <£6k you win financially?

[Big Kev]

I would buy the car back, you can buy it back at salvage value from the insurance company before it gets auctioned off for more, you can buy a 2nd hand engine for 1-2k . you will have your car back at half even less of the price you paid for it. Insurance companys live in a world of their own. :ffs:

My 4.2 rav got rear ended, insurance wrote it off quoting 9k of repair work

Anyway I thought bllx looking at the car no way 9k of damage.

Insurance paid me out 1k more than what I paid for the car a year prevoius.

I bought back car for 2k, labour 1.5k, parts £500 I now have my rav back in its origional condition for half the price. Only downside its on a cat D now.

As for the water getting into your engine, my guess is a combination of high revs and hitting the water hard dislodged a part of the air intake, and the engine hoovered up the spray somehow.

Anyway its only an engine replacement, 2k max for new engine, have a look on ebay.

Ask how much to buy the rav back ,I may take it myself.

The plan is to take the money and the car. My brother-in- law wants to repair it. If he changes his mind I'll let you know.

Websmin,

Please accept my sincere condolifications on the demise of Kevin, a particularly nice name for your car. Hope it works out with insurement peoples. If you get it fixed, you will surely be financially ahead (maybe slightly...), but owning and driving a "CAT D" vehicle is of no consequence if you intend to keep it until it dies...again. I would buy one if I was well aware of its provenance, like a friend having had your problem and fixed it.

Desist from buying lottery tickets and/or backing horses.....you are wan unlucky chappie.

Big Kev

[jedi134]

1. I bought rav4 for £7700

2. A year later someone rear ended me.

3. Insurance company wrote it off and paid out £8700 (they said 9k repair bill) no idea why? Maybe someone had a lazy day, cars can be written off for as little as scratch on a panel. I am up 1k already.

4.As the car is mine I have 1st choice to buy it back at what the insurance company call salvage cost. This is the price they sell the rav to the auction house. At auction it goes to the higest bidder, no idea what someone would pay for it, but probably a lot more than 2k which I bought it back for.

5. When you buy it back they deducted the 2k from the £8700 so in fact I got back in cash £6700 and I still have the car.

6.Repair costs were: Labour 1.5K and parts £500 total 2k in repair bils plus 2k for rav, I now have my origional rav for around half the price I paid. 4k for 8k car.

If its just an engine that needs replacing then to me this is good, as no chassic damage, just slot in a new engine. I was supprised at how low the buy back price was, I did not think twice.

I even went to the trouble of asking the insurance company for the inspectors report (cant think what its proper name is)and this was a break down of the repair costs and what needed to be replaced. No idea where they got 9k from, probably main dealer labour rates at £1000 p/h????????

[webleymk3]

I would buy the car back, you can buy it back at salvage value from the insurance company before it gets auctioned off for more, you can buy a 2nd hand engine for 1-2k . you will have your car back at half even less of the price you paid for it. Insurance companys live in a world of their own. :ffs:

My 4.2 rav got rear ended, insurance wrote it off quoting 9k of repair work

Anyway I thought bllx looking at the car no way 9k of damage.

Insurance paid me out 1k more than what I paid for the car a year prevoius.

I bought back car for 2k, labour 1.5k, parts £500 I now have my rav back in its origional condition for half the price. Only downside its on a cat D now.

As for the water getting into your engine, my guess is a combination of high revs and hitting the water hard dislodged a part of the air intake, and the engine hoovered up the spray somehow.

Anyway its only an engine replacement, 2k max for new engine, have a look on ebay.

Ask how much to buy the rav back ,I may take it myself.

The plan is to take the money and the car. My brother-in- law wants to repair it. If he changes his mind I'll let you know.

Websmin,

Please accept my sincere condolifications on the demise of Kevin, a particularly nice name for your car. Hope it works out with insurement peoples. If you get it fixed, you will surely be financially ahead (maybe slightly...), but owning and driving a "CAT D" vehicle is of no consequence if you intend to keep it until it dies...again. I would buy one if I was well aware of its provenance, like a friend having had your problem and fixed it.

Desist from buying lottery tickets and/or backing horses.....you are wan unlucky chappie.

Big Kev

Cheers Kev. Kevin was gutted not to meet you.. his long lost Scottish cousin!

1. I bought rav4 for £7700

2. A year later someone rear ended me.

3. Insurance company wrote it off and paid out £8700 (they said 9k repair bill) no idea why? Maybe someone had a lazy day, cars can be written off for as little as scratch on a panel. I am up 1k already.

4.As the car is mine I have 1st choice to buy it back at what the insurance company call salvage cost. This is the price they sell the rav to the auction house. At auction it goes to the higest bidder, no idea what someone would pay for it, but probably a lot more than 2k which I bought it back for.

5. When you buy it back they deducted the 2k from the £8700 so in fact I got back in cash £6700 and I still have the car.

6.Repair costs were: Labour 1.5K and parts £500 total 2k in repair bils plus 2k for rav, I now have my origional rav for around half the price I paid. 4k for 8k car.

If its just an engine that needs replacing then to me this is good, as no chassic damage, just slot in a new engine. I was supprised at how low the buy back price was, I did not think twice.

I even went to the trouble of asking the insurance company for the inspectors report (cant think what its proper name is)and this was a break down of the repair costs and what needed to be replaced. No idea where they got 9k from, probably main dealer labour rates at £1000 p/h????????

I am sorely tempted just to fix her and not bother with getting a new one... It all depends what the insurance company offer me. Was meant to find out today but the report for Mr T didn't get to the insurance company. They are currently resending...

All I know is I go on holiday next Friday and could really do with a working car by then!

[abraxas]

Ouch! Really sorry to hear that, Web.

I totally agree with you that it should not have done that. In fact, that should not happen in any modern car, never mind one which tries to be off[t]-roader. From physics point of view, the water spray is reasonably predictable. And so is gravity. So if you design the air-box to draw from the top (which it does) and place a barrier in the path of water (the air filter) and then place the intake in a sensible place – the only way I should expect to see this is if you go in so deep to manage to fill up the whole air box with water. Therefore, something must have got disconnected somewhere to allow ingress. The only issue is whether it got disconnected as a result of water forcing it, or was it disconnected before. I am not in automotive industry, but if I had to guess, I would say that Toyota had this scenario tested as part of their design process.

Therefore I believe, with all due respect, that saying that “you should have driven slower there” is just stating the obvious (with 20:20 hindsight). I don’t think this should have anything to do with it. By applying the same logic: If you stayed at home and not driven, none of this would have happened either. :)

If, on the other hand, you wrapped it ‘round a tree as a result of aquaplaning off the road …. I’d say: that’s totally your fault for driving too fast and not paying due care and attention to road conditions. But that is not the case.

BTW, It would have been too freaky if it was the puddle down from Belford hotel (next to the bridge over the Water of Leith). I was down there the other day after the torrent, and I accelerated through the puddle. Not managed anywhere nearly as fast as 30mph, but gave me a nice splash and a feeling that I may just still be alive. :) It never crossed my mind that could have any effect on the car. So if you are a turnip for thinking along those lines, count me as one too. (and a few others here, judging by the comments).

Hope you get it sorted, mate!

[webleymk3]

:ffs: :ffs: :ffs:

Ok.. what a fricken joke... apparently it's not written off... yet... the insurance company are still yet to decide. The daft burd assumed that because I said Toyota said it would be £12k then it must be a write off. wit a dafty!

So, their engineers need to evaluate the damage and decide.. could be tail end of next week til I find out. Had an engine lined up and everything. need to sit tight and wait. so frusturating...

*sigh*

Happy weekend..

[jedi134]

:ffs: :ffs: :ffs:

Ok.. what a fricken joke... apparently it's not written off... yet... the insurance company are still yet to decide. The daft burd assumed that because I said Toyota said it would be £12k then it must be a write off. wit a dafty!

So, their engineers need to evaluate the damage and decide.. could be tail end of next week til I find out. Had an engine lined up and everything. need to sit tight and wait. so frusturating...

*sigh*

Happy weekend..

Id be very surprised if they wrote it off just for a replacement engine. As to me is is economically viable to repair. What age is your rav?

[webleymk3]

:ffs: :ffs: :ffs:

Ok.. what a fricken joke... apparently it's not written off... yet... the insurance company are still yet to decide. The daft burd assumed that because I said Toyota said it would be £12k then it must be a write off. wit a dafty!

So, their engineers need to evaluate the damage and decide.. could be tail end of next week til I find out. Had an engine lined up and everything. need to sit tight and wait. so frusturating...

*sigh*

Happy weekend..

Id be very surprised if they wrote it off just for a replacement engine. As to me is is economically viable to repair. What age is your rav?

They said it was because Toyota quoted the repair at £11k - £12k. The engine is goosed. It's needs to be replaced.

Kevin was a 2006 model.

[Aycee]

What happened in the end, was it written off?

[Davrav]

What happened in the end, was it written off?

Yes