Any auto mechanics ?

[hippiechick]

My parking lot got flooded overnight from pond-runoff in a really heavy rain, and the front end of my car (Nissan Sentra) was under water.

It's stopped raining so I went out a little while ago and tried to start it; it's chugging and turning over but sounds like it wants to puke.

Is it dead ?
What's it going to cost me to get it fixed - if it's fixable ?
Does insurance cover something like this ??

:hippie:

[usual_suspect]

1. Starting is a good sign

Pull out the spark plugs and let it dry out as long as you can. Turn the engine over a couple of time while it drys. Change the oil to. Engine and automatic transmition. Good luck.

[Samuraimad]

3. dry out the disributor cap also.....n/t

.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Questions

My husband is an ASE master mechanic with 30 years experience. He has some questions:

1. How deep was the water?

2. What year is your Sentra?

Now I quote him:
Two possibilities:

If it starts up and runs but runs terrible, probably the ignition system is wet. It is a matter of drying out the distributor cap and things should be ok. If it has a distributor cap, open it up, and you'll see moisture. Try drying it with a dishtowel or use air (better choice). It's the moisture in the cap which is causing misfire.

If it doesn't run at all, then water was sucked up through the intake which could bend things like rods, which means a major overhaul.

But it sounds like it can run, so probably you just totally soaked the ignition system.

Good luck!

PS my husband likes your name-he's an old hippie himself!

[Wcross]

4. Year is important!

If it is fuel injected it should be ok, as long as you didn't try to start it while it was still submerged. If it is an older car you may have a problem. You probably are not getting a spark due to moisture. They sell stuff to dry off electrical components at any auto supply place. If some cyliders are firing, it is your plugs, if nothing is firing it could be in your distributer or celiniode. I would remove the distributer cap and dry out the interior, check the wires ect. I am not a mechanic, but have driven old cars and trucks all my life and have had to repair on a regular basis.

[Bombero1956]

5. I'd say pull the plugs and check for water in the cylinders

Check the dipsticks for the engine and transmission. If there are water droplets clinging to the end of either dipstick, you absolutely, positively need to change the oil and filter before even thinking about starting the engine. If the water was muddy, it's probably wisest to remove the oil pan from the engine and wash the mud out. Change the oil and filter again in a few hundred miles, too. There's a fusebox under the hood, check in there for water as well.

[trof]

6. WD-40!!!

Hose everything you can get at with WD-40.
Especially plug wires.
All the wires!
WD stands for Water Displacement, which is exactly what it does.

[hippiechick]

7. Thanks Everyone !!!

It's a 2001 ... it was turning over ...water was about 2 1/2 feet deep ... I'll wait awhile longer (its supposed to rain all day) and see if I can get a ride to pick up some WD-40 and some motor oil.

Don't know how I'm going to change the oil with 4 inches of water under the car, but that's a separate issue.


THANKS A BUNCH for your input !!!

:loveya:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. Use a hair dryer first

I've been checking back here to find the answers to my husband's questions. I've told him of the others' advice, and he says the first thing you need to do is get rid of the moisture in the distributor cap, using the dish towel or air (he clarified that to be a hair dryer). He says the worst thing that you may have to do is go out and buy a new distributor cap. We wish you well.