HELP - Big puddle + car = Dead Car

[shanegticupra]

Hello all,

I was out driving on friday night and happened to go through a very large puddle. Im talking right across the road and about 5 inches deep. i drove through it relatively fast, out the other side and then started to loose power, naturally dapped the throttle to try to get the revs back up but nothing. the car eventually lost speed and stopped.

I gathered somet got wet and would be ok when it dried out, so went to try to start it on saturday...nothing and then sunday....nothing! monday....nothing. Now im slightly stuck. Anyone know what the problem is likely to be? I've heard a few people mention "fu**ed engine" but i dont really like the sound of that! i would appreciate any advice!!

Thanks

 

[m0rk]

WD40 everything electrical

 

[andycupra]

just leaving this for a few days doesnt mean they will have dried out.
especially given the cold weather.
i remember cleaning my engine bay few years ago and finding the car drove for 2 mins then stopped.
seems water got in the distributor and i had to strip it to remove it.
theres also possibility that water has got into the inlet.

( i believe top gear turned over the engine with the sparkplugs removed when the nissan truck got a sunking in the sea to remove water...) - i may be wrong dont take my advice im no mechanic*

but the WD40 advice is good.

 

[Hayz]

Yeah WD40 everything, Mine did that it just kinda died when I was on the way to work litterly just outside where I work and had to get someone to push it.

When it got wet it wasn't sparking as the water got on the HT leads and it sparked through the water and it wouldn't start.

I just covered everything in WD40, it worked for a while. Just doesn't like damp and puddles lol.

xx

 

[andycupra]

oh and also check under coil packs / in spark plug recesses.

 

[shanegticupra]

Thanks lads, i will give the WD40 a try later, worth a try! i'll keep the thread updated!!!

 

[Hayz]

Not all of the people who replied were lads

 

[studioeng]

Not all of the people who replied were lads

Awwww *lends a warm supportive hug*

Or of course, you could go diesel cha-ching

I've been through a few puddles and it didn't stop

Just seems to be hills that get the better of it

 

[Ben16v]

Wait till you go through a proper puddle. Diesels really dont like water

 

[studioeng]

Wait till you go through a proper puddle. Diesels really dont like water

Ok, so how come diesels work perfectly fine underwater; as long as the air intake and exhaust are not blocked ??

 

[Ben16v]

I thought diesel engine bent conrod's very easily due to the high compressioned nature of the engine. Thats where your problem would be is soaking it up through the intake.

Please correct if im wrong and ill apolagise profusely!!

Then you can me!

 

[shanegticupra]

Sorry Hayz!!!

I sprayed everythin with WD lastnight and didnt seem to make a difference (yet) so i had to get it towed to a garage. A mate of mine had a look at it yesterday and said that i'm not gettin a readin off of the crank speed sensor and theres no spark comin out of the ignition coil! I cant really see how the puddle could of screwed the crank sensor but hey. He is gonna change them both for me tomorrow and see if that fixes it!!

Thanks for all your advice. Think i'll pass on the diesel tho studioeng!

 

[WeeC]

I thought diesel engine bent conrod's very easily due to the high compressioned nature of the engine. Thats where your problem would be is soaking it up through the intake.

Please correct if im wrong and ill apolagise profusely!!

Then you can me!

Na your right in my experience. Mate was going through a puddle when got hit by the bow wave of a van coming charging through the other wave. Water in the intake and bent a conrod. End of his nice little mk2 diseasel Iboza

 

[NeoMagic]

A diesel engine will only bend a conrod if water actually gets into the piston chamber but that is no different to a petrol engine it would do exactly the same thing.

As a general rule a diesel is much more resistant to water e.g. why do you think apart from obvious the torque gain for less BHP they use them in 4x4’s.

Put it like this say you had to cross a 3 foot high river in an old Range Rover and you have a choice of the V8 or the 300 diesel which would you choose?

I know I would most definitely take the diesel due to no spark system to get wet and ignition systems hardly affect them either.

Anyway enough ranting just my 2p worth lol

 

[shanegticupra]

Cars fixed!!! My mate changed the crank speed sensor and that made no change, so we changed the ignition coil and now it works fine. Water must have got into it somehow!!! thanks for all your advice.

 

[andycupra]

thats a relief sounded very serious!