Technical Water in the engine...

coyle · Jun 30, 2009

Hey guys..

last night there was some real heavy rain around my house. I was on the way home, and as i live in a little village there is only one road in to it.
I went through a puddle, it looked big, but i didn't realise how big...

About half way through the car cut out.

the engine went off and wouldn't go back on.

I pushed it out of the puddle and went back this morning with my dad. We tryed to get it started again, it was turning over, but wouldn't start. Then after a couple of try's we go it going, but it was realy chugging loudly. My dad went to drive it off down the road to try and clear it out. He didn't get very far and there was a big bang, and sparks coming from under the car, this was followed by alot of white smoke coming from the engine.

I think its likely water got in through the gsr kit, as it sits so low in the engine bay, and this was sucked straight in to the engine.

Im not sure what the hell to do..
does it sound like i'll need a new engine? Is there ways to fix this?

If its a new engine.. does anyone know anyone that can do engine replacements on a stilo?
and can anyone suggest a decent engine to put in there? I need to know what to start looking for. am i best looking for another 1.4 stilo engine? or could i get a 1.6 or a 1.8 from a stilo? or anything from another car

any help much apreciated.

12[X] · Jun 30, 2009

if water got into combustion chambers and you ran the car (hence snapping crankshaft) then yes.. its cheaper (and more reliable) to get a new engine.. another 1.4 is advisable (as for why.. - search dude.. but it's cheaper to buy another stilo than retrofit an engine to the one you have.. in short - existing electronics would not work with another type of engine)

for future reference - if there is water in cylinders.. remove spark plugs and crank the engine (doing so would push most of the water out..) you can then replace spark plugs and drive off into the sunset.

ps: I do feel sorry for you (so my apologies if above seemed rude)

Deckchair5 · Jun 30, 2009

Do that anyway. Open the bonnet and let it dry out. Disconnect the D4 connector and dry that out. Take the plugs out and crank the engine over. The fact it started afterwards is a little promising and I would expect white smoke and some misfiring. If it's new engine time then you have nothing to lose

12[X] · Jun 30, 2009

also remove you con filter and pipes - make sure no water is left in there (and dry the filter before you try to start it)

coyle · Jun 30, 2009

12[X] said:
if water got into combustion chambers and you ran the car (hence snapping crankshaft) then yes.. its cheaper (and more reliable) to get a new engine.. another 1.4 is advisable (as for why.. - search dude.. but it's cheaper to buy another stilo than retrofit an engine to the one you have.. in short - existing electronics would not work with another type of engine)

for future reference - if there is water in cylinders.. remove spark plugs and crank the engine (doing so would push most of the water out..) you can then replace spark plugs and drive off into the sunset.

ps: I do feel sorry for you (so my apologies if above seemed rude)

I think i will realy struggle to get another 1.4 stilo engine..
it seems like a hard task getting any replacement parts for a stilo, let alone a decent engine.

Deckchair5 said:
Do that anyway. Open the bonnet and let it dry out. Disconnect the D4 connector and dry that out. Take the plugs out and crank the engine over. The fact it started afterwards is a little promising and I would expect white smoke and some misfiring. If it's new engine time then you have nothing to lose

I left it an hour or so, it does start, just very low rev's asif its going to stall. and its very loud, banging etc..

So should i give it a go removing plugs?

sixpotman · Jun 30, 2009

Sorry to hear that Coyle but that's another advantage of
being so low down in the world.

If water has got into the engine in any quantity it does not
compress so it hydraulicaly locks the engine solid and bends
and breaks internal parts. Take the plugs out and turn the engine
over by hand if too much water has been pulled into the engine
some residue should be force out.

You may be slightly lucky well not if it's taken any ecu's
that its water in the electrics shorting out which caused the
sparks. The white smoke may also be the exhaust clearing out
water which has seeped into the exhaust when left in the puddle
overnight.

I'd try drying the electrics out before trying to restart it again
hand rotate the engine and see how it goes, don't forget if
you have declared all your mods and are fully comp you may
be able to put a claim in for repairs, consider all the alternatives
there though as they may write it off and not let you have the salvage.

John

12[X] · Jun 30, 2009

its quite straight forward really - if con rods have been bent - you've had it as that'll = a rebuild or new engine - ecu is really up high on stilos (so unless he went swimming there'll be no water there) but other components/sensors could have failed (e.g. maf, crank sensor etc.).. rightly follow the above - if engine turns normally the chances are you've not damaged con rods or crankshaft (then dry it, scan it and replace what's needed) if it does make weird noises while cranking with sparks out (if you're trying that) or there’s grinding/severe resistance while hand turning = you've had it

if there's a miracle and it starts - consider timing belt replacement and a full service (water in belt tensioners = not a good idea) you might also consider putting your ordinal airbox back in

Deckchair5 · Jun 30, 2009

I left it an hour or so, it does start, just very low rev's asif its going to stall. and its very loud, banging etc..

So should i give it a go removing plugs?
Yes be patient and let it dry out, do the D4 connector (see Stilo Guides) turn it over with plugs out. Dry everything out you possibly can in the intake. Then retry

The low air intake does seem to scoop up water on the Stilo. There's been 3 on here to my knowledge who wrecked their engine when driving through deeper flood water

12[X] · Jun 30, 2009

leave the bonnet open when you try to start it (in case con rods fly out.. so as to not need a new bonnet as well

) couldn’t help it ..

Adrian Bravo · Jun 30, 2009

Definatly take all the spark plugs out and turn it over coyle. If its ok, you should give it an oil and filter change. Ill keep my fingers crossed. Are stilo engines that hard to find?

Ffoxy · Jun 30, 2009

from what you describe Coyle the engine sounds real poorly... the banging... the sparks from underneath, not revving.

Prepare for the worst buddy... and if its not that bad in the end breath a big sigh of releif... and move that air intake higher ffs!

coyle · Jun 30, 2009

Deckchair5 said:
I left it an hour or so, it does start, just very low rev's asif its going to stall. and its very loud, banging etc..

So should i give it a go removing plugs?
Yes be patient and let it dry out, do the D4 connector (see Stilo Guides) turn it over with plugs out. Dry everything out you possibly can in the intake. Then retry

The low air intake does seem to scoop up water on the Stilo. There's been 3 on here to my knowledge who wrecked their engine when driving through deeper flood water

just looking at the guide.. the d4 connector is above the battery, and the water wasn't up there..
is it still worth doing?
what exactly do i do with it? open it, then what?

and do i remove all the plug's then turn the ignition?

coyle · Jun 30, 2009

sixpotman said:
Sorry to hear that Coyle but that's another advantage of
being so low down in the world.

If water has got into the engine in any quantity it does not
compress so it hydraulicaly locks the engine solid and bends
and breaks internal parts. Take the plugs out and turn the engine
over by hand if too much water has been pulled into the engine
some residue should be force out.

You may be slightly lucky well not if it's taken any ecu's
that its water in the electrics shorting out which caused the
sparks. The white smoke may also be the exhaust clearing out
water which has seeped into the exhaust when left in the puddle
overnight.

I'd try drying the electrics out before trying to restart it again
hand rotate the engine and see how it goes, don't forget if
you have declared all your mods and are fully comp you may
be able to put a claim in for repairs, consider all the alternatives
there though as they may write it off and not let you have the salvage.

John

i pushed it out of the puddle mate, the smoke was from under the bonent, not the exhaust.

how do i hand rotate the engine?

Adrian Bravo · Jun 30, 2009

Just take the spark plugs out and try to start it as normal. The starter motor will spin the engine and any water will come out of the spark plug holes.

coyle · Jun 30, 2009

i dont think the waters caused any electrics to short, it still turns on etc, and theres no warning lights...

Argonought · Jun 30, 2009

A good soaking is survivable but you do need to be quick thinking.

I sank a car once in about 3.5 feet of water! (I say sank because it actually floated for some time and at one point I thought it might even make the other side - given the slight forward propulsion from the driving wheels).

Once it was clear the air intake (rear engine with air filter on top of engine) was about to go under water I tuned off the engine, climbed out the window and sat on the roof

What's remarkable is that after getting towed to a local garage, who gave it a good going over, I was back driving it in the afternoon (got to admit the inside stank quite badly though :yuck

You should always be aware of the position of your car's air intake

Adrian Bravo · Jun 30, 2009

coyle said:
i dont think the waters caused any electrics to short, it still turns on etc, and theres no warning lights...

You will probably only have to worry about wet spark plugs in my opinion. So id take them out dry them and if your car still lives change them soon as possible.

coyle · Jun 30, 2009

if im getting a new engine..

will a 1.6 stilo engine go straight in? or will i have to change lots of other things ie gearbox,ecu etc..?

if i want to change engine only will it HAVE to be 1.4 16v?

or are there any others that would fit? i'd even consider 1.2

if it would fit... with swapping engine only

Hellcat · Jun 30, 2009

Are you with the car now and able to do some work on it?

Get the connectors and plugs out and drying, liberal application of WD40 where water needs to be displaced. Crank the engine with the plugs out - you can do this with the starter motor. You can do it slower with a socket on the crank bolt.

coyle · Jun 30, 2009

Adrian Bravo said:
You will probably only have to worry about wet spark plugs in my opinion. So id take them out dry them and if your car still lives change them soon as possible.

what about the banging as it drove? that wnt be plug related will it?

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