General Drove through heavy flooding, won't start

[bigS]

Guys,

I have a big problem, the horrible rain over here has caused some real heavy flooding. I drove through a large breadth of water, not too deep though yet I was going at a high enough pace.

The car stalled and simply won't start now, at all. Won't turn one bit, I have checked the spark plugs and coils for dryness and they are fine. I can't seem to get the car to manually turn over either, even with rocking the car back and fourth in first gear. I tried jump starting and not even a peep.

I'm really stumped here and need the car to get home in the morning!

I'd really appreciate any help from everyone, I know I might just have to let it dry out but I'd like to eliminate other problems before that.

Thanks

Shannon

 

[Dcthebear]

Check the air filter housing. If thats flooded then no air is going to get to the engine. Doubt its a fuel issue, more likely electrical. Any dash warnings such as the engine management light or key code could well denote the ecu has shorted but its well protected normally with water tight connectors. Your best bet for now is a tow home with a break down crew and let it dry out and try again tomorrow.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

If you can't get the engine to turn over in gear then you have a big problem.

It maybe you've hydraulic locked the engine which is when the engine fills with water either in the cylinders or crank case, when this happens the engine is locked solid as the engine can't compress the water. Damage can be catastrophic bent valve or conrods seized engine as the water washes out and replaces the oil it can literally destroy the engine, you need so take out all the spark plugs and try rocking it in gear again, see if anything is pushed out try and find out what's in the oil.

Do you have power to any of the other electrical systems? And you might need to go through the fuse box to see if any have blown

 

[fingers99]

Try pulling all the plugs, see if it cranks. If it has hydraulicked, expect lots of water to come out of the plug holes.

 

[bigS]

No dash warnings at all, however the clock has reset itself. I had the battery out last night night in case it died anymore.

I'm not sure how it could be hydraulic locked as I have an aftermarked induction kit that sits relativly high although all the sign are there for it so I will get a lift into town to get some spark plug sockets and hope I havent damaged too much! Really horrible that this has happened so far from home otherwise I would have all the tools I need!

thanks for the help everyone, I really appreciate it. I will let you know how it goes!

Shannon

 

[Brendan W]

I'm not sure how it could be hydraulic locked as I have an aftermarked induction kit that sits relativly high
Shannon

It doesn't take much to raise puddle water to the roof level. What's going up outside the car is also going up under the bonnet. A running motor is a very powerful vacuum cleaner and it doesn't take much to lock a pot - 35cc will do it to the 1.2 8v petrol.Diesel motors probably half that. Aftermarket induction systems usually make it easier for water to get in as the stock system will have twists and turns and traps in the filter box etc.

 

[bigS]

Just got the plugs out and a lot of pushing to gush out a good bit of water. Not looking good to be honest, gonna keep trying with the plugs out for a while to see if I can free things up. If I cant get it to start off the starter it will likely be new engine time!

Shannon

 

[bigS]

Unfortunately it is new engine time! Finally got it running there but shes not running on all 4 and shes knocking quite badly, sounds like its coming from the head and over one or possibly too valves.

However it is going to cost too much in time and money to search and find all of the problems to fix so I'm now on the lookout for a half decent second hand motor! Anybody living in northern Ireland know of any ecent dismantlers breaking puntos?

Shannon

 

[Jamie MK2]

Unfortunately it is new engine time! Finally got it running there but shes not running on all 4 and shes knocking quite badly, sounds like its coming from the head and over one or possibly too valves.

However it is going to cost too much in time and money to search and find all of the problems to fix so I'm now on the lookout for a half decent second hand motor! Anybody living in northern Ireland know of any ecent dismantlers breaking puntos?

Shannon

Traynors

I have a head a pistons here from my old engine ( crashed car )

but im in Meath so its too far to travel, so yeah, Traynors be your best bet

 

[bigS]

Head and Pistons would be tempting but really don't have the time to be splitting the engine so I'm looking for a full engine ready to drop in and link up to all I already have! Hopefully I'll have her back on the road next weekend!

I'll try Traynors during the week but they cost a small fortune from their if I remember right! There is a place in Downpatrick where I got one for dirt cheap before so I might try them!

Really gutted as the car was running so sweet before hand!

 

[bigS]

Ok, so I have the engine out now. Manifolds are off so I can at least see the sides of the valves however I have never inspected valves for failure, can anyone give any advice or will I have to pull off the head and inspect further?

I plan on working down through the engine to find anything salvagable and maybe get away with a short block repplacement depending on the head!

I have put the word out for a new engine so I should have one by next week.

 

[bigS]

I now have the head off, from a visual inspection all valves look fine although two off the inlet valves are white. I cant't remember if this means lean or rich? But this is likely due to the p75 cam not being reshimmed yet.

all valves seen straight and have no play when on and off cam.

Now the pistons:

the two outer pistons at the belt side and gearbox side are both very wet and grimy. Their TDC position is also about 3mm short of the TDC of the two inner pistons. I also found a metal head gasket in their rather than the composite verson which surprised me.

Any ideas if the two outer pistons are supposed to have less travel than the inner two?

I will be splitting the engine further now and I have a hoard of photos to put up later also

 

[s and b]

your engine is scrap since it ingested water
only thing worth saving is the head if valves not bent as you say and ancilleries including manifolds
the thermal shock will have done unknown problems and the conrods are likely bent in the block
crankshaft] i wouldnt use due to stoppage stress either


keep to plan 'a' find another lump or bottom end at least

 

[bigS]

I finally got to the bottom of it and it is as expected, knackered!

Connecting rods on both Pistons 1 and 4 are bent quite badly! The complete head seems in good order at least.

I'm going to just buy a cheap second hand motor though to save time and money going and doing the head gasket with a short block.

Here's a few photos of the rods and the pistons: