Hello All,
I have been lurking here for quite some time. I have done many mods to my '04 Black Crossfire. She's my daily driver and I love her like a member ofthe family. (I commute about an hour and a half each way six days a week)

Last Tuesday that member was hurt severely. It was storming badly on my way trip home. I was driving in the center lane of a particularly semi-flooded road. A less than courteous driver in a bobtail semi sped past through the deeper water. A VERY large wave engulfed my dear Crossfire. Her engine sputtered and died where she sat. Afraid, very upset, and a tad ashamed I had her towed home. After letting her sit in the garage for 2 days to 'dry out' she would not start. Nothing the starter at all. All 'other' eletrical worked fine. I thought it was the 'Myster No Start' issue. I went to the local MB dealer & bought a Relay Control Module. ($190.00 plus tax) I installed it. No Change.
I put her upon jack stands & set forth to change the starter. OMG That was not fun. I had to remove the section of exhaust pipe from the manifold to the cat. (Of course the bolts were rusted - mmm Dremel good) Then the wires are JUST short enough to be a huge P.I.T.A. (Here's a tip - disconnect the other end other end of the positive from the back of the Alternator) After a long long night I got the starter changed and all parts reinstalled. (The original starter was COOKED. The inards were cooked black & OMG the stench of burnt electronics)
I cranked her up. I was greated by a disturbingly loud knock knock knock that brought one of my neighbors over to see what the rucus was about. (I have to ADMIT it was WELL after 2AM) She's running ROUGH. Like engine lurching from side to side rough.

She is pushing steam? out of her exhaust pipes. (I figured that would subside after a couple seconds, but no such luck) No water in the coolant, yet. The oil on the dir stick and inthe cap is the normal shade.

I'm HOPING its something quasi-simple like a head gasket (please God let the heads and block be okay).

I'd do a compression check gut getting to the spark plugs looks like it will be a bigger P.I.T.A than the starter.

Encourging words? A 'How To' that I might follow? Is it time to spend $1,800.00 (plus install) on a replacement engine? Anyhone wanna buy 'Relay Control Module'?

H E L P

Wayne K.