Hydrolocked? =*(

[Desibabu345]

Hey guys just today afternoon around 2pm here there was horrible rain, I was driving and i guess went through a puddle too deep (I have a cai). The car started to sputter and right before it died I saw a huge cloud of white smoke out the tailpipe. I pushed it to a dry area and now (few hours later) I get to take a look at it. I take out the spark plugs and in 2 of the cylinders theres a puddle of water (can see reflection of water puddle). So yea - im screwed? I did some search, when I try and crank the engine it doesn't turn over, just makes a beginning starter sound like a loud click with some movement, but no turning over. Again, hydrolock? Basically what I'm wondering is what all needs to be replaced when something like this happens? I'm just trying to get an estimate of a number of what all I need... I'm going to wait and let the water dry out and then maybe try it again in a vain attempt. This couldnt have happened at a worse time *sigh*. So what do you guys think? (besides calling me an idiot)
Sid

 

[AWDPetmitsu]

It's hard to tell what needs to be replaced until you pull the motor and tear it down. I think your best bet, if it really did hydrolock, is to swap it for a used motor that you know runs. This way, you don't have to check what's broken or not, or maybe miss catching something that needs to be replaced. Of course, if the block and head are not damaged, you can tear it down completely and do a rebuild, but that takes some time. Sorry to hear about your motor. I personally would never run a CAI. I don't even have an aftermarket air filter because from how I see it, more airflow means less filtration.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

Yea it does sound like hydrolock, once water gets into the cylinders its beat (water cant be compressed so it seizes). It could be a lot of different things, personally I would just buy a used motor that runs good and use that, your head is probably fine tho.

 

[Desibabu345]

Hopefully we can get insurance to cover this since it was right outside of my house. But I guess the CAI ruins chances of that happening.
Sid

 

[doodie]

You shouldn't have cranked that motor.

What you should have done was take out those spark plugs and use a shop vac to vaccume out all that water. Leave the spark plugs out and let it dry over night or so and maybe it might crank. If it still doesn't, you might have bent a valve or jumped a tooth.

 

[Desibabu345]

Well although im sure you're right.. It never cranked. Even when it died right then and i tried to start it, it didnt crank, just "try" to. So by then it was already done for i think.

 

[doodie]

If it was just the clicking and it wasn't turning over, than it might be just an electrical problem.

 

[BUCK]

It bent the Rods when you hit the puddle & tried to compress water - What you do later would make no difference whatsoever :thumbdown - It would be nice to flush it with Kerosene if you are gonna save it - What motor is it - worth a Turbo conversion?

 

[AWDPetmitsu]

I was thinking that it could be electrical also, but remember, he said that he saw a white cloud of smoke from the tailpipe and that he saw water in the cylinders when he pulled the plugs. Chances are, his motor is hydrolocked, but only checking it for sure will verify that.

 

[Defiant]

Well, you can't break it any _more_, so yank the plugs and try cranking it. That'd get out any water you needed to. Make sure a connection's not been blown off the starter, and give it a try.