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Car Flood Questions and Answers - This category contains featured
questions as examples. They relate to most vehicles.
Question: 1999 Chevy Z-71 5.7/350 mileage:
103,000. I was recently off-roading with my truck and went fast through some big
puddles maybe a foot deep. The truck ran fine for 5 minutes afterward and I parked
it in my garage. 35 minutes later I started it and it ran weird. It vibrated and
popped and sputtered. It had a big loss in power. When I got to my destination it
was idling for maybe 3 minutes and stalled out. I tried to start it 20 minutes later.
It would run but I would have to give it gas to keep it running. I put it in gear
but it would stall out. I got it towed home by my dad and I worked on drying all
of the plugs, wires, and distributor components. I also had to dry out my filter
and air intake, where there was a little water sitting in there. I got it all back
together, wires hooked up properly and it will run fine at idle but I can feel a
little vibration. When I put it in reverse the vibration is worse when I give it
gas. As in all gears I can feel the vibration. I think it may be a spark plug or
wire. I listened to my dual exhaust and one side purrs perfectly while the other
one seems to be missing. Do you guys think this is a spark plug? I just got new
plugs.
Answer: Your problem sounds like a ignition coil that has a carbon path
as a result of being wet. Replacing this cap should fix your problem. Hint: Note
the location of the plug wires before you start�it will save you a big head ache.
Question: 1999 Chrysler Lebaron mileage 74,000. The problem that I seem
to be having is a water puddle under my driver seat. I have changed the weather
stripping all around the door and the small piece on the rear window. I don't think
its the air conditioning because the puddle doesn't show up when I run the air conditioning.
I also checked the drain tube on the firewall and it is draining water out like
it should. I also took a garden hose to the driver side window and I don't see any
water flowing down on the other side of the glass. I'm stumped and confused. Is
there something that I didn't check or replace? If I don't get this fixed I will
definitely have a major problem with my floor rusting out with all that water sitting
there all the time.It appears to be about a cup of water.
Answer: If we had your car in front of us, we would very carefully pull
back the upholstery and or carpet and check for water stains that would indicate
the direction of the leak then trace it back to the source of the problem. You could
have a poor fitting door gasket, a faulty fresh air vent, or windshield gasket.
Question: 1999 Ford F150 mileage: 14,700. Recently this truck was in high
water. The water got up midway on the engine and transmission. The car quit running.
We checked and it had no fire. When we pull the spark plugs, they had wet fuel in
them after turning the engine over. We checked the coil pack and it check out too.
My question is could it be the crank module and or does this car have a cam module
too. How can I check either of these to make sure they are working correctly? The
next question is could it be the computer. Thanks for your help. Dennis
Answer: Your truck is equipped with a computer controlled engine management
system. An independent auto service center can scan your computer for fault or error
codes. The information should pinpoint the malfunctioning components.
Question: 1999 Nissan Altima mileage: 80,000. This car spent 8 hours
under water. I�ve stripped it down, disassembled, cleaned, everything top
to bottom. It runs great. Problem is with taillights, rear side marker,
tail license, and interior background lighting are inoperable. Rear stoplights,
turn, backup, front side marker and clearance lights work fine. Fuse box was
pulled apart and cleaned twice, all electrical connectors I could find were cleaned
as well, all relays replaced, all fuses good. Combination switch was cleaned
and checked per Haynes manual. Haynes manual page 12-30 shows a connection
at J/C-5 that might be my problem, but I�m not sure where to locate J/C-5.
I�ve replaced instrument cluster, main switches, and most every brain box, including
numerous small boxes under dash. Willing to do more to get this light situation
under control. THANKS.
Answer: A light control module is located in the trunk that controls the
rear lights. It may have been damaged.
Question: If you can tell me anything. What are some problems you
may encounter with a flood vehicle? I�m thinking of buying one.
Answer: Check the engine oil for water and also the gas tank.
Change the oil if necessary. If the engine will not crank over as if it is
frozen, remove the spark plugs and turn the engine over by hand to remove the water
from the cylinders. Dry out the ignition system � spark plugs, coil, etc.
On your engine are several sensors that feed information to the computer.
Remove the connectors and dry them out. If the computer got wet, try
drying it but be prepared to replace it.
Question: 1999 Oldsmobile 88 mileage: 55,000. The rear passenger
floor (drivers side) is soaking wet. It has developed over a month and a half.
Took it to a GM dealer - they seemed very perplexed by it. Have not come across
similar problem. After 45 minutes of their diagnostic work, they said both
passenger and drivers door weather-stripping were bad and needed to be replaced.
(Special order) I find this hard to believe on a 1994 auto. In addition,
since my trip to the dealer, we have had seven days without rain and the carpet
is still sopping wet. Any help would be appreciated.
Answer: It is possible the heater core is leaking coolant
or the drain for the air conditioning condensate is over flowing onto the carpet.
However, the front should also be wet. Maybe the door seals do need
replacing. The water may not dry up in seven days. Try pulling
up the carpet to dry it out and see if more water gets in.
Question: 2003 Honda Civic mileage: 65,000: My car was recently repaired
for flood damage. They replaced the ECU, changed the transmission fluid, oil, and
checked the brakes. After the repair, I noticed when stopped at a stoplight the
idle would get low eventually stalling. The low idle/stalling would happen occasionally.
I took the car back to the Honda dealer that originally had serviced it for the
flood damage. They said the low idle was due to carbon build-up in a valve and that
they cleaned it out and it should be okay. The idle problem persisted. I took the
car back again, and now they are saying I need to replace the electronic air control
valve. They say it is not water damage related; therefore, I would have to pay for
the repair? My question is, once a car has been flooded, is not the entire electrical
system of the car in question? Thanks
Answer: Yes, from what you describe, the low idle problem started to occur
after the car was flood damaged. Water has a way of ruining electronic components.
Question: 2003 Mazda 6 mileage: 65,000. Hurricane Irene hit my area 2-days
ago, and my car was flooded, water rose to about the door handles. I have moved
the car to dry ground, but it won't start. When I turn the key the starter is engaging
but the engine feels like its stuck in the position its in. Is there anything I
can do if water is in my engine?
Answer: Check the engine oil for water and also the gas tank. Change the
oil if necessary. If the engine will not crank over as if it is frozen, remove the
spark plugs and turn the engine over by hand to remove the water from the cylinders.
Dry out the ignition system � spark plugs, coil, etc. On your engine are several
sensors that feed information to the computer. Remove the connectors and dry them
out. If the computer got wet, try drying it but be prepared to replace it.
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