Help! Went through a "river" and now car won't start...

[Niks93GT]

It was raining real bad last Friday. I made a left turn on to a road and this road was lower than the road I had been on, so when I made the turn and hit the gas, my car sucked up water (thats what it sounded like) and shut off. I tried to restart it and it sound like a bunch of metal clacking then it stopped. I tried to restart it but all I heard was a click. Now when I try to start it, all I still hear is a click. I tried jumping the solenoid and the battery but neither worked. I took the starter off and had it tested. It showed no good, so I got another, put it on, and still no luck, all it does is click. Any ideas? Also, after it sat for a couple days the back brakes seem to have locked up. The ebrake is working fine but the regular brakes seem to be sealed. Any help?

Nik

 

[Daggar]

Check your grounds and swap the solenoid.

--or--

Get a 351M boat motor.

 

[JB66]

Pull all the spark plugs and see how full of water the cylinders are. Then go out and get another short block.

 

[ALMOSTFINISHED]

I'd pull all the spark plugs and then crank it, you may see a buttload of water shoot out of the plus holes. Sounds like the engine is hyrolocked. If you did indeed suck water up and it entered the cylinders you may be in a heep of trouble my friend, especially if you tried to start it again, the pushrods don't like water, nor does anything else for that matter. Good luck man. I would drain the crankcase and pull the plugs and crank like I said above before you try and start it again.

Nick

 

[stock 92 gt]

in da ass

 

[megan_92]

boyfriend took his truck off roading and did the same thing... the motor got all water logged and it's done for good.

 

[LoudToy958]

Unfortunatly its probably too late. If you leave water in the cylinders overnight, the motor may have locked up. The reason it wouldn't turn over after the incident is becuase water does not compress. At least not a ratio a stang produces anyhow.

What you needed to do is pull the plugs immediatly after, fill the cylinders with penetrating oil, crank, then repeat about 5-10 times. Proably through two cans of oil. That may have saved your engine. Now I am sure the cylinders are rusted over pretty good. Cool water on hot iron. NOT GOOD.

Trying to restart it may have bent a few rods. I would check that too while I was in there. You may get lucky and just have to hone your cylinders and piston tops clean. Down side is you have to pull the motor to do it.

Hope it can be saved, really sucks that it happened. Sorry about your luck.

 

[MrKwik]

How high was the water you drove through? Unless you have a ram air under the bumper, it would have to be pretty damn high to get in the engine I would think.

 

[LoudToy958]

How high was the water you drove through? Unless you have a ram air under the bumper, it would have to be pretty damn high to get in the engine I would think.

You would think, but even a fender mounted cold air or open element cold air in the engine can pull enough water to kill the engine. Doesn't take much at all. This is a very common problem with stangs. I have seen over 2 dozen stang with the same problem when I was in Ohio.

Intake pulls more air than you would think. Plus turning the corner, I am willing to bet he started to accelerate before the "river" which didn't help I am sure.

 

[The Fox]

Hey, look at this way, optimism... You didn't invest in any bottom end work. So all the mods you've done will still be there with a new 302. That's the way I'd do it. It would be easier IMO to grab another 302 and do the swap or even, if funds allow, STROKE IT cuz ya BROKE IT. Sorry, saw the opportunity to rhyme. Good luck, and sorry to have heard the loss.

 

[Niks93GT]

The water was about two feet deep... fixin to walk outside and pull a couple of plugs and look at em.

Nik

 

[MrKwik]

The water was about two feet deep... fixin to walk outside and pull a couple of plugs and look at em.

Nik

OH...OUCH! You hydrolocked it. It's probably a dead soldier now.

 

[Niks93GT]

The plugs weren't rusted but they were wet and a couple of drops of water fell from the two I unplugged.

Nik

 

[Rick 91GT]

Pull all the plugs, pull the coil wire and crank it over, then like stated put some oil in the cylinders...

The bearings in the A/C, idler and anything else may also be ruined.

My sister went offroading in her Honda in a bad storm a few months back, we yanked all the plugs and cranked it to get all the water out and got some oil in the cylinders and everything is fine. it did take out the bearings/clutch in the A/C compressor, and the motor is a tad louder...

Water ins't the best....

 

[jaymac]

wow, never heard of such a thing before! THat sucks, but it's definitely good to know!!.
Sorry about your car, bro...

 

[Niks93GT]

Pulled all the plugs and tried to turn it over but all I still got was one click and thats it. Most of the plugs had water dripping from them.

Nik

 

[Daggar]

Have you tried the penetrating oil and hand cranking to see if it will turn?

 

[Niks93GT]

Have you tried the penetrating oil and hand cranking to see if it will turn?

Not yet. Will try it when I get a few minutes and let everyone know.

Nik

 

[jrichker]

Pulled all the plugs and tried to turn it over but all I still got was one click and thats it. Most of the plugs had water dripping from them.

Nik

Clean all the battery connections, including the block ground. The water may have damaged the starter.

A 15/16" socket applied to the harmonic balancer bolt can be used to turn the engine. If the starter doesn't work and it is an auto trans car, that would be the next step. If it is a 5 speed, put it in 5th gear and try to push the car.

 

[Niks93GT]

Starter is good, see my first post.

I tried hand cranking it, mine was a 1" bolt. I pulled and pushed and pulled as hard as I could and nothing happened.

Nik