Flooded XC60 - Problems help please!

[XCclubman]

Hello to the forum,

I have found a flooded XC60 D4 2.0 163hp, MY2011 in an autotrader and because of it's low price I would like to buy if it is not too expensive to repair. I checked the car today and I found the following problems:

Any help is really appreciated! I posted photos of the instrument cluster and snapshots of the DTCs and descriptions (where available)..
Imgur photo post

From the small amount of info I managed to obtain from the dealer, what happened is that the car was hit by a side river (no body damage at all) and so it flooded and couldn't restart. Seems that the water was a bit under the seat's base. They have cleaned it and except from the smell nothing reveals what really happened.

So, the car idles and revs fine (Stationary, didn't have a chance to take a ride on it).

The problems:

On the car's screen:
1) Charging system failure Service urgent. Plus the battery indicator is ON and is obviously not charging. Jump started it using a charger.

2) Soot filter full. Plus related DTCs - P2452->Diesel particulate filter pressure sensor A circuit, P2463-> Soot accumulation (please check the DTC photos). Is it the sensor or just the soot filter nees regeneration?

3) SRS Airbag service urgent. Also I found that under the passenger seat there is a connector which was some signs of mud in it. Could it be that? Needs cleaning?

4) Parking brake service required. Checked the parking brake and it works ok.

5) Engine system service required. Possibly because of the soot filter? Or does it refer to the ECU?


DTC snapshots (OBD doctor used, where no description there was no available)






Also the radio doesn't turn on (display is working) and the driver's window is not functioning. Didn't check the rest.

I am good at car wiring and I do standalone ECU tuning for a living since 2012 but not with OEM Ecus so not so good at those but I can troubleshoot wiring problems. I also have a VIDA clone on its way. Will it help?

If someone of you has ever had ANY of these problems, could you please help and state the solution? That way I will try and get rid of some problems and make a budget for the rest. For example, is it possible that it burnt all 5 glow plugs or is it a wiring issue? Also, regarding the generator/alternator, I see the "Cooling Fan Ratoinality Check" which I have read on another post that is somehow related. This is the kind of expertise help I would like from you.

I believe in Volvo. We own a S60 2.0T since 2003 and never had a problem with it!

Thank you all in advance!

[benr7310]

You may find that some of it just needs an obd code reset through VIDA or a replacement sensor like with the parking brake as that still work.. but without checking it is really impossible to tell. It would have to be seriously cheap for me to go near it.

[SwissXC90]

Beware of flooded cars

Multiple controls units and loom connectors will have been underwater.

How much of the water got inside the control units?
How much corrosion has started inside the control units and the loom connectors?

Electronics do not like water and the damage may not manifest itself for months or years to come.

Do a reset with VIDA and then see what current faults exist.
You may need a new alternator or new regulator.

You WILL want to go over all electrical systems with a fine tooth comb and inspect and clean ALL parts that were under water.
You'll be going through a few cans of contact cleaner and WD40 to clean things up.

The car will need to be seriously cheap....

[GreenBrick]

If you want to find out about flooded cars, watch "Car Guru" on youtube, as he restored a flooded Tesla. Very interesting to see how much damage water can do.

I personally would keep well away unless you have an identical donor for everything electrical, then there is still all the reprogramming etc.

Was it a write-off, as putting it back on the road and getting it insured may be tricky?

[XCclubman]

Thank you for your kind answers. More or less these are what I thought of too.

I can't get details about how much water got in but I guess it was a bit under the seat base. If i decide to proceed I will clean everything first and then start changing things.

Some questions:
Does the alternator embed a regulator or they are separate units?
Do we have any kind of ECU locations in order to identify which got underwater?

For example the driver's window and the radio not working may be controlled by an ECU for the cabin, located under the passenger floor mat. If that is the case then I know for sure it got underwater and I will start looking for prices in order to make a budget and finally see if it is worth buying it or not.

Thank you again!

[XCclubman]

Dear GreenBrick,

thank you for the videos, I will start watching! The car is not a write-off, it still has licence plates on and it tax ok till new Year..

Except from the smell which is not very very strong, nothing else reveals that it was flooded..! Seems weird to me as well..

[wimorrison]

In a previous life in another country we had a special bay for drying out vehicles that had been drowned. These vehicles were not the sensitive modern motor cars, they were rather more 'agricultural' and had significantly less electronics that exist in moderns vehicles.

The reason I mention this is that several of the equipments we dried out were scrapped as they were beyond economic repair due to the water ingress into what were basic electrical systems - and some of them were actually designed to float on the water!

On a modern car the challenge of getting it running again would be several times greater and I wouldn't even consider trying to get it going.

[Tannaton]

My counsel would be unless you can break the car and sell the parts for what you are going to pay for it - it's not worth the risk. You might find that 4 our of 5 of the faults are benign but then have to spend £2000 on a new ECU and programming to sort the final one - you will only know when you have fixed them all.

The other issue is that clearly the car has had power to it whilst it was flooded, this could have caused further damage. However the fact that system are working and reporting the problems is a good sign - but you are taking a considerable risk and the price should reflect that if you proceed.

If you do proceed - getting a VIDA installation will be essential. Not just for the codes, but the other information and procedures it gives you access to.

[XCclubman]

Yeap I have already ordered VIDA.

If a new ECU is needed, VIDA can't do the programming?

[cheshired5]

Never buy a flooded modern car and by modern, I mean the last 20 years or so.

They're cheap for a reason.....