Blown engine or starter? (Went through water)

tristanlee85 · 08-26-2004, 12:38 PM

Well, most people know I have my CAI located in my front bumper and it easily sucks up water. Usually when it does suck up water, the car will stall out and take about 5 mins or so to start back up after blowing the water out of the exhaust. Well today, I wen through a puddle of water to get itno my school and it was the only way in. I assume I sucked up water cause it instantly shut off. So, I tried restarting the car and it didn't turn over at all. The lights dimmed though as though the starter was pulling power by trying to turn over. So, I held the key to the start position and I got it to turn once. Then, I took the key out and try again. It wouldn't turn over at all and the lights no longer dimmed. So, someone please tell me that by going through all the water, somehow the starter shorted out and got ruied rather than my engine.

I am only thinking the engine is ok because it tried to turn over once, and I could tell the starter was working because it would pull enugh power to dim the light. Now it no longer dims when I turn it forward. I know there is some water in my engine, but usually before when it was like that it blew out the exhaust after trying to start it multiple times.

CAmos · 08-26-2004, 12:52 PM

Water will not compress. Once you draw it into your intake, you create a situation where your starter is basically trying to turn over a siezed motor.

Pull all of your plugs out, and try it. Hope you did not cook it off.

If it spins, it will push out the water and you can dry and re-install the plugs and it should start

Ditch that intake. The couple hp you are picking up are not worth the trouble

IMHO.

CAmos · 08-26-2004, 12:56 PM

Worst case....

You can actually bend rods, and do serious damage by taking water into a running engine, since it is basically like
stopping the whole car with one cyl, all the stress is transferred to the surface of one rod, and they can and do break this way.

Many hot shot 4x4 suv owners have found this out trying to duplicate the stuff they see on the jeep commercials.

tristanlee85 · 08-26-2004, 01:04 PM

Well, the starter doesn't even seem like it trying. Even if the starter was trying to turn over a seized engine, it would at least pull power. The starter isn't pulling anything cause the lights no longer dim. When it dries and I can lay on the ground, I'm gonna use a screw driver to just the 2 terminals on the starter in hopes the engine will try to turn over.

So, if I pull the plugs and try to start it, will it blow out the water (if any) or will it blow out oil was well? I don't assume oil becuase there shouldn't be any in the cylinders unless I have a leak through the rings right?

CAmos · 08-26-2004, 02:54 PM

Check out this thread on a guy who blew a $20k lexus motor driving it through water.

http://forums.thedieselstop.com/ubbt...=1#Post1963317

Here is a quote for those who might not want to click....

"But hey, its just a little water, how much damage could it do? And how would a quick bath hurt a Lexus V8? The next picture shows the large air intake right above the radiator, which pulled the water directly into the engine. The last three pictures show the blown engine. You can see the hole in the middle of the first picture. The second is a close up, the hole is the size of your fist. The third picture shows the smaller, second hole blown thru the side of the engine block.

Insurance should be covering the damage, and they may actually total the car later this week. Totaled? From a a little water? To repair the damage, the dealer will have to install a new engine. The dealer says that the new engine will cost $20,000!!! And that is before diagnosing the transmission or any electronics and computers."

CAmos · 08-26-2004, 03:04 PM

If I were you,

I would;

1.) Pull the plugs.

2.) Do a good visual inspection of the battery cables and connections,
You may have toasted the starter, but the cables should be checked.

3.) Try the key again with the plugs out.

4.) drop the starter, and take it to a parts store and have it bench checked
(hope it is bad).

If you are going to jump the terminals, I would at least make sure to pull the plugs first so that if there is H2o in the cyl then you can pump it out if it turns over. The solenoid could have failed under the load, but I would bet the windings of the starter would fail first.

Good luck man.

tristanlee85 · 08-26-2004, 03:20 PM

So even if the starter is toast, by jumping the terminals the engine should try to crank over? I mean, even if it is filled with water and the starter was good, wouldn't I notice light dimming by the load the starter is pulling?

CAmos · 08-26-2004, 03:49 PM

Quote:

So even if the starter is toast, by jumping the terminals the engine should try to crank over?

No, if the starter windings are bad, this will do no good. 'jumping across the terminals only bypasses the solenoid. (the part that goes 'click' when you turn the key)

Quote:

I mean, even if it is filled with water and the starter was good, wouldn't I notice light dimming by the load the starter is pulling?

Yes, you would think so, but you may have burnt the cable, or just overheated the starter. (unlikely)

amazinghl · 08-26-2004, 04:03 PM

And get rid of that CAI already.

tristanlee85 · 08-26-2004, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amazinghl

And get rid of that CAI already.

Well, calm down. Give me time.

I did smell an, what I thought to be, electrical problem when I opened the hood of the car. Hopefully that's all it is. I'll post back when I try it in 1 hr after class.