How serious is the damage if a car is flooded?

Question

There was heavy rain and I drove my car into an intersection where there was a lot of water. I didn't know that the water level was that high until it was too late. My car stalled The water level wasn't high enough to get into the interior of my car, but it was high enough to make it stall. It wasn't left in the deep water for too long. I had help pushing it out of the water after several minutes. I tried to start the car again. The starter cranked, but there is no combustion. I was wondering if any serious damage has been done to the car. It was not flooded up to the windshield like the ones you see in the news. I have an '88 Nissan Pulsar.

Answer 1

I doubt that you have hurt the car in general, other than possibly electronics! If it is not direct "coil to sparkplug" (as on a lot of very new cars),- you might have to take off the distributer cap and dry out the inside, then let it sit a little while (turned upside down) next to the distributer, - to let the water all evaporate out of that area. You might check all the wires and see that they are fairly dry, (just wipe a paper towel along them when you can get to whaterver parts that are easy to get to). don't pull off more than one wire at a time (if iyou feel that you must clean/dry them all the way), -and pull from the "rubber insuater" cover - not the wire, - (new carbon track wires are easily "stretched and broken"!) If there is moisture in the cap, the high voltage will jump around indside the cap, and not in the gap on the plugs, -(as it will take the easiest way to ground)! If the engine cranks ok, you probably don't have enough water inside the engine to keep it from starting (as shorted out ignition is probably what stopped it in the first place). If on the other hand, it sort of "stalls" on each revolution it might have a little water in cylinders, as water doesn.t compress, and it is hitting water, - if it then turns again, it is a very small amount,- if it totally stops, then you will have to take the plugs out and crank over a minute or so to blow all the water out of cyliners!

Generally speaking, all the other things will dry out, and once they are totally dried out, the car should run as good as it ever did. Wet sensors might have sent the wrong information to computer, and it didn't let the car start, - but once they are dried out, they most likely won't have permanent damage to them!
The computer itself is high enough that the water didn't even get near it!

Answer 2

take out your spark plugs and crank the engine till all the water comes out. Change the engine oil. Put the plugs in and hit the key. If it doesnt start, wait a few days and try again. If it does start, let it run for a few hours but dont drive it just in case it decides to die. If on starting the engine ticks or knocks or doesnt run right, STOP. You may have serious engine damage and the car should be towed immediately to a mechanic

Answer 3

Give it a few hours or days to dry out. When you cranked it did the engine turn over as usual. The worst possibility is that water entered the engine and made it to the combustion chambers. Water does not compress like air and will seriously damage the pistons, rods, etc. if it made it to the comb. chambers.
Most likely, the ignition wiring is just wet and needs to dry out.

Answer 4

With all the electronics on cars today, you probably shorted out some sensors or the computer. Let it dry out for a few days and see if it will start. If it does, you are very lucky.
If it doesn't you'll need to take it to a good qualified tech. Master tech 40 yrs.

Answer 5

Its not he heater center leaking for in basic terms neath he sprint? it quite is going to run down the lower back ingredient of the carpet and into the lower back Passenger ingredient floor board. The heater center is on Passenger ingredient of the sprint additionally. you need to use a dollar to determine the door seal. close the door on the dollar and attempt to tug it out. it could desire to have some resistance. do this each of how around the door. If it do not in some spots that's the place your water is leaking in and the seal choose replaced. positioned a hollow interior the floor on the backside ingredient to enable the water drain out mutually as your attempting to parent it out. this could decrease down on the water harm and scent.