okay, there was a major storm yesterday in my city..and we had really bad flooding..i was driving home, and I went thru some deep water..while going thru, my car stopped halfway..thankfully, someone was able to help push me out..we tried to start it once out of the water, but it wouldn't start..my battery isn't dead tho..the car just won't start..my question is wat do I do about this..i am broke (lol) and can't afford to fix it..someone told me that maybe some water got into the engine..they said to just let the water dry, and it will start up again..how true is this?..please HELP!...thank u in advance..
2007-06-28 04:06:58 · 17 answers · asked by Fabe 6 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
sorry guys...its an 01' dodge stratus..4 cylinders..
2007-06-28 04:36:23 · update #1
you may have gotten the ignition wet. You will have to wait to see if it dries out on it's own...
2007-06-28 04:09:11 · answer #1 · answered by mjvincent 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You may have gotten some of the electronics wet and that could stop the ingine. If you actually sucked water into the engine itself, then it could be a problem. Water will not compress, and if you try to start it with enough water in the cylinder, you could bend some parts and break others.
Let it dry out and give it a shot, if it turns over, then you should be OK. Then you didn't break anything serious. Good luck.
2007-06-28 11:19:12 · answer #2 · answered by Fordman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL WOULD BE HELPFUL BUT HERE GOES....................
IF IT IS A SMALLER TYPE VEHICLE I SEE THIS EVERY TIME THAT IT RAINS.............THE WATER WILL GET SUCKED UP FROM THE AIR CLEANER THAT IS LOCATED VERY LOW ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE...................I WOULD FIRST START OUT BY LOOKING THERE AND CHECKING THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FOR WATER.
DISCONNECT THE BATTERY FIRST.................DRY OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.............DO NOT SPRAY ANYTHING ON THE THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR........IF NEEDED REPLACE THE AIR CLEANER.
ONCE YOU ARE FINISHED CHECK THE ENGINE OIL....ALSO IF NEEDED CHANGE THE OIL AND FILTER....IF ALL IS OKAY AFTER THIS AND IT STARTS UP AND RUNS.......I WOULD SAY THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY.
IF THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON..............YOU WILL NEED TO CLEAN UP ANY SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE WATER STAINS AND THEN TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND HAVE THEM REPAIR WHAT IS NECESSARY UNDER WARRANTY.
IF THEY ASK YOU IF YOU WENT THROUGH ANY DEEP WATER JUST DENY EVERYTHING..........BECAUSE SOME WATER WILL GET IN AND AROUND THIS AREA AND THERE REALLY IS NO WAY TO PROVE YOU WRONG.
2007-06-28 11:25:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If water got into the cylinders, it would prevent the engine from cranking. So if the engine is cranking normally, but won't start and run, I would first reset the fuel cut-off switch which is located in the left or right sidewall of the trunk on some cars behind the carpeting. Check your owner's manual for its location. It's called the inertia or fuel cut-off switch which activates when the car is in an accident or gets bumped. You simply push in the red button to reset it.
2007-06-28 11:16:10 · answer #4 · answered by bobweb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If water got into the engine you might as well make an insurance claim. If your insurance doesn't cover it, get an oil change now! You might get lucky and its just wet wires, an oil change will tell you if water got into the engine. Other than that, if you wait for the water in the engine to "dry up" you'll have a two ton pile of junk in your driveway.
2007-06-28 11:16:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
water does not go into the engine, but it might have gotten into the wires, distrebuter, and maybe the computer. first try to dry the wires and the distributer cap. also see if yu could dry the computer, if you did so and the car dont start, then you might need a new computer. what kind of a car is it anyway??????
2007-06-28 11:28:12 · answer #6 · answered by raedallan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pull out the dipstick and check whether any trace of water in the engine.
If water went into engine,dont attempt to start it.drain out all lub oil and flush the engine.Change the luboil filter b4 pouring in new luboil.
I am pretty sure that your distributor got wet and now the sparks are astray.
Get your distributor cleaned.Spray some cleaner and let it dry.Pull out one wire by one wire,to avoid misfire.
Then box the cap and wires in place.
Now remove the spark plugs and clean them one by one.
The car shud start now.DIY if can.
good luck.
2007-06-28 11:15:43 · answer #7 · answered by george.m 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Let it dry out for a day or two. Water will seep into everything, it might be an electrical short somewhere though. Wait a day or two, if it doesn't start still, you need to have someone look at it. OR ride the bus.
2007-06-28 11:10:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
just raise the hood and let it dry out. probably what happened was water got on the ignition. if its got a distributor, take the cap off and dry it out good, and spray some wd-40 into the cap, to get rid of the dampness, and dry off the plug wires. it will start, when it gets dry out dear.
2007-06-28 11:15:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
IT might.
IT depends on how much water got into it - and whether or not it damaged anything.
Try waiting first - then if it won't start, you might be stuck taking it to a mechanic - check with friends/family, etc to see if anyone can recommend an honest, reasonably priced one.
2007-06-28 11:10:34 · answer #10 · answered by Joe M 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
that might be the case, jsut let it dry out for a day or two. leave your hood open so that air car get in there a little faster. other than that, if there is a mechanic close to your house, maybe you can somehow get him to look at your car. usually they will tell you wats wrong w/ it for free, its the fixing it that can get costly
2007-06-28 11:10:55 · answer #11 · answered by gteeters44 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋