2002 Isuzu Rodeo Question #1 piston damage

2002 ISUZU RODEO
83,000 MILES • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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MJOHN5
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We have a 2002 Isuzu Rodeo 2WD with 83,000 (2nd owner for 1 yr). The #1 piston has been damaged & we are now needing the engine replaced. We have been told by the independent extended warranty representative that they determined the piston damage was caused by water. This was determined frome some dirty water residue on the engine hood & front radiator cover & the finding of some dirty sediment in a hose leading to the system. Our repair technician feels it could also be from a defective piston...not enough proof it was caused from water. The vehicle is housed in Texas (hot climate/high humidty) & is driven through normal water puddles when it rains on roadways like all other vehicles are. I have searched the internet & found numerous complaints of engines freezing up, some with piston damage but most reference due to oil consumption but nothing about water getting into the system. Quite possible the extended warranty company is using this as an excuse to not pay the claim. Is there any information to support it could be a defective piston?

Any help is most appreciated...
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:42 PM
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MHPAUTOS
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HI there,

Water damage in this instance can be fairly readily determined by a number of factors, normally water ingestion damage will cause a rod to bend or piston to crack, as water is incompressible something has to give, now saying this, there are tell tail signs far more damming than a bit of muddy water on the bonnet, for water to enter the combustion chamber in the volume required to do said damage, it must get through the air filter, so this will be sodden , there will be water and muck in the air cleaner housing the inside of the induction hose the manifold and in the combustion chamber, i have on one occasion had a diesel that bent a rod and kept running, but normally when it get a gut full of water it stops and thats that... i feel that the insurer is looking for an easy out clause... whats new!!!!, your mechanic should be able to tell how this failure has occurred, if it is ingested water from external sources this will be quite evedent...

Mark (mhpautos)
Jun 19, 2009 at 10:54 PM
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MHPAUTOS
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Thank you for the vote, i hope that you can get a satisfactory out come with this problem, insurance agencies are notorious foe trying to cut legitimate claims, but whats new, often there not worth the paper there written on, let me know how you get on and good luck.

Mark (mhpautos) Australia.
Jun 19, 2009 at 11:30 PM
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MHPAUTOS
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Hi there,

Just wondering how you got on with the claim?

Mark (mhpautos)
Jul 6, 2009 at 6:47 PM
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MJOHN5
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Hi,

It has been a long two week process but we do have good news to report. The extended warranty company finally agreed to pay the claim once the repair shop determined the piston rods were not bent (the owner of the repair shop strongly argued the claim for us once this was discovered).

Thanks again for following up on this issue!
Jul 7, 2009 at 12:21 PM