#1: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: Mkajuma, Location: KenyaPosted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:32 pm ---- Have tried searching but either it's not on or I'm simply too impatient. So thanks to the fantastically drained roads here and very heavy rains, wound up going through what I unfortunately assumed to be a not so deep body of water. Car stalled in the middle and wouldn't start. When I came out to push the car, water was to slightly below my knees. Pushed it to an apartment right next and left it for the night. Just checked it, the filter is drenched. Car still won't start even with the filter out. Makes a sound like a flat battery. But battery is fine all electronics and lights working fine. Any ideas as to what monumental damage I may have done? What a f*****g mess.
#2: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: ExoVyper, Location: Waiting for the tugboats to push me into port (Whitehaven)Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:51 pm ---- sounds like it's sucked water in and hydralocked
providing you havent bent anything trying to start it take your spark plugs out and turn it over it'll fire the water out, then let it dry out and try again later
#3: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: NICKST, Location: Little hulton (worsley)Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:33 pm ---- Remove the filter and plugs try to fire it up if it up
As said above.
Replace plugs air filter oil and oil filter. And also check for blow fuses. Hope fully you haven't bent any valves.
#4: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: Mkajuma, Location: KenyaPosted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:19 am ---- Thanks guys just nipped off way from work wanna give it a go....
#5: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: craigy00craig, Location: surreyPosted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 3:55 am ---- Just below your knees?!?! That must have been like hitting a brick wall
#6: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: MrrNoName, Location: UKPosted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 4:11 am ---- The cylinders are Hydrolocked meaning that they have water inside of them. As water doesnt compress, when you try to start the car it wont crank over. Making it seem like a flat battery.
How hard were you revving at the time? if an engine is hydrolocked at high revs it can easily write it off. (bent piston rods etc)
As said above you need to remove the water from the cylinders. The best way of doing this is to remove all of the spark plugs and crank the engine over, water will be forced out of the spark plug holes.
If it doesnt crank with the sparkies removed then somethings badly bent.
If the car does crank freely then you should change the oil filter, air filter, oil and replace the plugs, then it should start.
#7: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: Mkajuma, Location: KenyaPosted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 4:17 am ----
craigy00craig wrote:
Just below your knees?!?! That must have been like hitting a brick wall
Not really went in very slowly....after I watched a Toyota Corolla drive through and gained confidence.....the worst part is I had a choice of like 3 roads to use to get where I was going...this was the shortest. *regretful sigh*
#8: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: Mkajuma, Location: KenyaPosted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 4:26 am ----
MrrNoName wrote:
The cylinders are Hydrolocked meaning that they have water inside of them. As water doesnt compress, when you try to start the car it wont crank over. Making it seem like a flat battery.
How hard were you revving at the time? if an engine is hydrolocked at high revs it can easily write it off. (bent piston rods etc)
As said above you need to remove the water from the cylinders. The best way of doing this is to remove all of the spark plugs and crank the engine over, water will be forced out of the spark plug holes.
If it doesnt crank with the sparkies removed then somethings badly bent.
If the car does crank freely then you should change the oil filter, air filter, oil and replace the plugs, then it should start.
Was in 2nd, very low revs as was entering slowly...Fingers crossed taking out the plugs now to try...
#9: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: MrBSI, Location: What's it to you? ? ?Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 4:44 am ---- If you have the standard air intake system on the 1.4 then it takes deep water to get sucked up in to the engine.
#10: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: E5GDM, Location: EssexPosted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 5:10 am ----
Mkajuma wrote:
Was in 2nd, very low revs as was entering slowly...
You should have been in 1st & kept the revs high & slipped the clutch (on a manual to drive slowly) to reduce the chances of water going into the exhaust. This might have been what caused your problem as the exhaust is usually lower than the air intake.
#11: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: pug206lx, Location: Taking a gearbox off somewherePosted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 5:17 am ----
Mkajuma wrote:
Makes a sound like a flat battery.
Hydrolocked. Guarantee something is bent.
#12: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: Seb, Location: Under your bedPosted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 5:40 am ---- Remove sparks, crank for a bit, change air filter, check for other signs of damage. Sparks in, give it another go.
With that engine it's cheaper to just try that and at least know if it's fecked than worry about breaking something. If something is buggered it will have to be removed anyway, and much cheaper to just put in another engine if that's the case.
#13: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: Mkajuma, Location: KenyaPosted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 7:35 am ---- Update: So sparks out, cranked it, now off to grab new plugs and filter then give it a go. Got a mate who worked at Marshalls to come and have a look as well, he jacked the car driver's side and turned the wheel several times, the timing belt turned. He said the engine should be ok....
#14: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: pug206lx, Location: Taking a gearbox off somewherePosted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 7:57 am ---- Did you crank it from the crankshaft pulley or did you spin it on the starter? Any knocking noises? You'll soon know when you've changed the plugs.
#15: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: MrrNoName, Location: UKPosted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:30 am ----
E5GDM wrote:
Mkajuma wrote:
Was in 2nd, very low revs as was entering slowly...
You should have been in 1st & kept the revs high & slipped the clutch (on a manual to drive slowly) to reduce the chances of water going into the exhaust. This might have been what caused your problem as the exhaust is usually lower than the air intake.
I disagree, he said the air filter was soaking wet which indiates that the water entered through the intake. I doubt that water could make its way all the way through the exhaust and up into the manifold when the engine is running, before being sucked through the stock intake. Also if the engine hydrolocks at low revs it doesnt always cause damage, at high revs it almost always bends/breaks things due to the force of it comming to an instant stop.
Keep the revs as low as possible in 1st gear if your driving through water and think a hydrolock might be possible
Failing that stay out of lakes, ponds etc
#16: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: Mkajuma, Location: KenyaPosted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 8:17 am ----
pug206lx wrote:
Did you crank it from the crankshaft pulley or did you spin it on the starter? Any knocking noises? You'll soon know when you've changed the plugs.
Starter. Put the key in and cranked it repeatedly, water shot out of the spark plug holes. Kept cranking until none was coming out. Then put in some used but ok plugs I picked from a mate, stuck the new filter in and the car started on the 3rd or 4th try.....sputtered a bit, then ran not too badly, revved it and let it idle intermittently for about 5-10 min then turned it off and stuck in the new plugs. Started on the first kick, good as new. WHOOP WHOOP.
All this was last night been running as normal all day today.....f*****g ecstatic no engine damage thanks heaps guys....you really should charge for your advice LOL
#17: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: ExoVyper, Location: Waiting for the tugboats to push me into port (Whitehaven)Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 9:10 am ---- who said i didn't charge for my advice? :L
that'll be two cinnamon danish whirls please
#18: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: mjsroofing, Location: south walesPosted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 3:08 pm ---- i've done this a couple of times and its not as good as it sounds, the chances is that the con rod is bent slightly and after a few miles maybe a 100 or two miles it'll snap, and poof goes the engine, if i was you i'd get rid of it before it blows up.
the first signs i seen on the two i have done was it useing more fuel and slightly less power, think it was about 2 months before it went on the 406 and about 2 days on the escort van, and both sounded lovely after i got them going, i was gutted twice. never again.
#19: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: deanparkr, Location: United KingdomPosted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:00 pm ---- Whats a con rod?
#20: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: no_offences, Location: LeedsPosted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:01 pm ---- had a similiar situation myself, dried the engine out got it running again but it was beyond repair just hope for the best
#21: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: no_offences, Location: LeedsPosted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:02 pm ----
mjsroofing wrote:
i've done this a couple of times and its not as good as it sounds, the chances is that the con rod is bent slightly and after a few miles maybe a 100 or two miles it'll snap, and poof goes the engine, if i was you i'd get rid of it before it blows up.
the first signs i seen on the two i have done was it useing more fuel and slightly less power, think it was about 2 months before it went on the 406 and about 2 days on the escort van, and both sounded lovely after i got them going, i was gutted twice. never again.
i had less than a week then bang lol
#22: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: Rob2859, Location: HalifaxPosted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 6:03 pm ---- I drove through a very deep ford once. The wave came to the bottom of my windscreen. It cut out on the way out but started after a while. Changed the plugs and filter and it was fine for a week apart from a slight knocking noise when cold. It threw a rod a week later. two massive holes ether side of one cylinder. When I got the engine out the sump was full of water too.
#23: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: E5GDM, Location: EssexPosted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 9:17 pm ----
Rob2859 wrote:
I drove through a very deep ford once. The wave came to the bottom of my windscreen. It cut out on the way out but started after a while.
in what?
#24: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: ExoVyper, Location: Waiting for the tugboats to push me into port (Whitehaven)Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 12:21 am ----
deanparkr wrote:
Whats a con rod?
a con rod or Connecting rod is the rod that links your piston head to the crankshaft
#25: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: Seabook, Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 8:33 am ----
Rob2859 wrote:
I drove through a very deep ford once. The wave came to the bottom of my windscreen. It cut out on the way out but started after a while. Changed the plugs and filter and it was fine for a week apart from a slight knocking noise when cold. It threw a rod a week later. two massive holes ether side of one cylinder. When I got the engine out the sump was full of water too.
did you post the pic on info before?
i do remember someone did something similar before....think is a 1.1 and it drove through a pond and cut out, engine blown after a month or so
#26: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: longeatonlad, Location: long eaton, derbyshirePosted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 11:04 am ---- i picked some posh dude up that drove his mini one through a ford, got stuck then tried cranking it over in the middle. that had locked, and there was a puddle of oil underneath...
as it was his own fault i even threw the winch cable in so he could attatch it himself, i dont get paid enough to get wet
#27: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: Rob2859, Location: HalifaxPosted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 2:03 pm ----
Seabook wrote:
Rob2859 wrote:
I drove through a very deep ford once. The wave came to the bottom of my windscreen. It cut out on the way out but started after a while. Changed the plugs and filter and it was fine for a week apart from a slight knocking noise when cold. It threw a rod a week later. two massive holes ether side of one cylinder. When I got the engine out the sump was full of water too.
did you post the pic on info before?
i do remember someone did something similar before....think is a 1.1 and it drove through a pond and cut out, engine blown after a month or so
In a ford E5GDM. As in a shallow river that runs across a road. although it was not very shallow at the time.
Look familiar? You can see straight through the other side.
#28: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: mjsroofing, Location: south walesPosted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 3:33 pm ---- dont drive it , just get rid of it.
#29: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: ronnie, Location: LanarksPosted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 3:35 pm ---- I've noticed the air filter hose goes under the car and up the inner wing.
Sucking up water will destroy your engine as it can't be compressed and the engine has hydauliced.....piston tries to squash the water but it can't and it then finds a weak link.....usually the rod bends or it is thrown out thro the side of the block.
A neigbour drove his V12 Aston thro a flooded bit of road.......AA picked him up and I noticed his car on an auction site sometime later as a write -off because of the engine damage
I feel the air filter hose is a poor design as it is so low down
I feel your pain
Ronnie
#30: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: Addaz, Location: SuffolkPosted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 3:39 pm ---- Gutted
#31: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: Rob2859, Location: HalifaxPosted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 4:40 pm ----
mjsroofing wrote:
dont drive it , just get rid of it.
I won't be buying a car from you
#32: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: Mkajuma, Location: KenyaPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 1:16 am ----
mjsroofing wrote:
i've done this a couple of times and its not as good as it sounds, the chances is that the con rod is bent slightly and after a few miles maybe a 100 or two miles it'll snap, and poof goes the engine, if i was you i'd get rid of it before it blows up.
the first signs i seen on the two i have done was it useing more fuel and slightly less power, think it was about 2 months before it went on the 406 and about 2 days on the escort van, and both sounded lovely after i got them going, i was gutted twice. never again.
so much for my celebrations. Power seems ok and will know about the fuel later this week.....just being hopeful here. Are there any other signs I should be looking out for?
#33: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: mjsroofing, Location: south walesPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:17 pm ---- the only way to tell if you have bent the con rod is to take the head of and look at the piston, but is it worth it. if it is bent you'll have to buy a new one and fit it, basically a engine rebuild. get rid asap mate, there is no signs leading up to a engine throwing a con rod it just happens in a split second. part ex, auction,?
#34: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: E5GDM, Location: EssexPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 2:14 am ----
mjsroofing wrote:
if it is bent you'll have to buy a new one and fit it
i think we have worked that one out now
#35: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: sicskate, Location: Margate, KentPosted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:57 pm ---- What's wrong with you lot?
Easy to chuck another bottom end in if the head is off.
#36: Re: Drove through water, car stalled now won't start Author: Mkajuma, Location: KenyaPosted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 2:51 am ----
sicskate wrote:
What's wrong with you lot?
Easy to chuck another bottom end in if the head is off.
Yeah....and if its running fine now, why not just use it till it blows? If it will, that is....
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