damaged engine?

Question

my daughter drove through high water & car died. now the starter acts like it"s stuck w/ clicking noise. no water on dipstick. water appears to only have come up 2 -3 in. above floorboard heigth. is starter damaged or just need drying out?

Answer 1

When pistons strike water a noncompressable liquid connecting rods bend. Your only chance is to remove all the spark plugs and airfilter box and dry them out. with the plugs removed crank the engine listen for knocking or the broken rod still won't let the engine turn. I have seen cars idling into water with out damage engine just died when water hit the airflow meter. ANd have seen cars driving a little faster to get to the other side break every piston and connecting rods. Good luck, You might be a new motor shopper.

Answer 2

open the hood, put a window fan there and open all doors, and let every thing evaporate. while doing that, put a small battery cherger on the battery, and build it up as well.
spray the spark plug wires with WD-40 to dispell moisture.

After a coupple of days, hit the key, and see if the engine cranks. If it does, thats a good sign. If it does not, find a breaker bar, and a socket that fits the big nut on the harmonic ballancer, and see if you can get the engine to turn at all.

Answer 3

Let's hope drying out. The clicking noise is the bendix unit pulling in on the flywheel, I would guess, but the starter isn't turning. Hopefully, it will dry out. If it continues to not start, in a few days then you will have to find out what the problem is. good luck

Answer 4

hi,
try spraying wd40 on all the main power wires mainly on the solnoid,leave it a while to get rid of the damp and them try it again

Answer 5

Did she try to start it while still in deep water?