Well Damn, Suggestions?

Nate's Alero · 06-04-2012, 12:38 AM

Coming home from work tonight, i was heading on a coastal road with a speed limit of 55. Driving along i see the truck in front of me swerve, then a HUGE wall of water come across the top of his truck. Knowing we just had three days of monsoon style rain, i slam the brakes and hit about a foot of water head on, at about 45mph. car instantly chugs, lights dim, SES, ABS and Trac off lights come on, and car nearly dies, i let off the gas to keep from hydro-locking the engine, and car chugs more, so i made it out, car is acting like it's running on three cylinders, get it to the gas station and check it out, COVERED with seaweed, engine bay is drenched, WAI is soaked.... Long story short, i drove it for about 30 miles, trying to dry it out, ABS and Trac off lights are out, SES is still on, car runs..... but is boggy and randomly drops to idle RPM under WOT.

So tell me, what should i check/do after this kind of water hit? I'm going to clean the MAF tomorrow and wash it considering it was salt water, but what else should i check? I just want to make sure i don't leave anything unattended, and have it screw up later.

TL;DR, Hit huge puddle, car nearly dies. Suggestions on what to check/do to make sure i didn't screw anything up/anything could be screwed up.

I know this should be common sense, but i would like opinions considering I've never had this happen to me before, and never really had to deal with a waterlogged engine before. So.... Suggestions?

xXManwhoreXx · 06-04-2012, 12:55 AM

Take out spark plugs and pull off intake and prop your throttle body open for the night

Nate's Alero · 06-04-2012, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xXManwhoreXx

Take out spark plugs and pull off intake and prop your throttle body open for the night

Hmm, Will do. Might just take the UIM off, clean it out... i also need new plugs anyway.. Also spray the MAF, and use electrical contact cleaner on all the connections? At least i know my underbody got pressure washed

Also should take my filter off and recharge it... Might be a good idea.

xXManwhoreXx · 06-04-2012, 01:33 AM

I mean if you wanna do that much work... But i would just do what i listed.

Your lucky you didnt benf a rod, water doesnt like to compress as much as air does

sleepyalero · 06-04-2012, 02:07 AM

yeah. i had the same problem and answered a question exactly like this earlier on gagt lol!

when i had a water problem i was on the highway in horrible rain and it got sucked up my intake and my car died once i hit the exit ramp. and from there it bogged for 20 mins on the way home. i took out my whole intake system and cleaned and dried all piping, cleaned iat, cleaned maf, cleaned tb, cleaned tps. gaurentee the black accordion looking hose connected to your filter has water sitting in there. pulled off the uim to make sure there wasnt water sitting in there too. but after all that it ran like a charm again.

Redog · 06-04-2012, 03:35 AM

The ABS thing happened to me 2 times. Once in the rain, the other time after driving thru a puddle that was 30 feet long. Both times the lights when out and the ABS returned after turning the car off, then back on

What was your SES code? The UIM thing sounds like a good idea

Starglow · 06-04-2012, 06:49 AM

Replace the air filter for sure if it got wet....also might want to consider doing an oil change just to be safe in case any water found it's way inside the engine.

Check and dry out all electrical connections and/or clean them with electronic parts spray cleaner you can buy at any auto parts store. Also check for water inside the engine compartment fuse box.

Good luck.....!

a.graham52 · 06-04-2012, 09:06 AM

WASH THE CAR A LOT!!! sea water does not mix well with metal. washer undre the hood, take it though the automated car wash that will clean under it. clean your maf sensor NOW before the sale water corrodes something. etc.

Nate's Alero · 06-04-2012, 10:19 AM

Damn. In the light the damage is so much worse. Ripped off ALL my front end splash shields, took both my front centercaps, filled my brand new Rad with grass and seaweed, and the entire engine bay is dried salt. It must have been a buttload of water. Gonna clean it all tonight when I get out of work. Pics for fun later too.

JLw7123 · 06-04-2012, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate's Alero

Damn. In the light the damage is so much worse. Ripped off ALL my front end splash shields, took both my front centercaps, filled my brand new Rad with grass and seaweed, and the entire engine bay is dried salt. It must have been a buttload of water. Gonna clean it all tonight when I get out of work. Pics for fun later too.

was it rt 1 were this happened and the sea water flooded the roads because of the storm surge and rain.