Nooch

Okay seeing how you've read the topic title now and for those of you who haven't, "1998 dx hatch, rain puddle+driving through it = check engine light,"
where do I start checking for problems?
I drove into the puddle on the right side, stock engine/everything in bay. It is now in gimp mode (check engine light is on/flashing).
I know, I know "check the code", but I don't know how to on OBD1+ models (I'm obd0 on MY car, this one is my girlfriend's.) Also it's pouring outside and would like a generic checklist of what should be checked first when it finally stops raining.

Former User

A blinking CEL indicates severe engine misfires. Don't drive the car until this is fixed.

Start by drying the spark plug wires and the distributor (inside and out).

Click the CEL sticky at the top to learn how to pull CEL codes with a jumper wire.

96hb

How deep was this 'puddle'?

EL Vap133

Do you have one of those cold air intakes that sits low?

Nooch

Will do. Currently she had to get to an early morning meeting, she should be back home soon. :/

Evidently pretty big, the splash was to the bottom passenger window height, maybe little less.
No, all stock. I'm thinking maybe some water got sucked into the intake though because that was the side of the puddle and all that.


Just irritating because it was from a pothole in the road that held an evidently large amount of water. Thankfully I was only literally about 500ft from home.

MonkeyMagic

since it wasn't hydrolocked.. i'd change the oil for piece of mind and reset the computer to clear the light and let 'er ride.

should be okay from what we can see here since it just seems you sucked enough water into the intake tract to extinguish combustion a couple times between a few cylinders.

Nooch

I really hope so haha. Can't really let one of our car's crap out on us.

Now I have another question: Is a 98 dx obd1 or 2?

MonkeyMagic

obd2a

if it was mine i'd pull the plugs and crank it a couple times to make sure anything in the cylinders is gone. but that'd be me doing **** just cause i'm freaking out.

Nooch

How do I go about that?
Remove all spark plugs and crank it? or 1 at a time (removal of spark plugs) and try to crank it? or what? What should I watch for/look for?

MonkeyMagic

all of them at once. and unplug the distributor.

crank it.

might see water shoot from the plug holes if there was a lot left in there.

this was standard procedure at the dealership for drowned vehicles. it removes any water left with 0 chance of damaging anything mechanical.

Nooch

She got home just now, going to check the code first before anything. She said it wasn't flashing at all, and if anything drove better than ever.... lol. Soooo okay I'll come back with my code.

Nooch

Okay

Code:
72: Random Misfire Cylinder Number 2.

Any ideas? She said it drove fine. I'm going to drive it around, maybe it just got the spark plug wet last night and dried off now or something. I'll be back with results of how it drove.

If I feel as though it drives regular/fine do you think I should just reset the ecu and call it a day or what?

Nooch

Drove it, drove fine. I reset ecu, turned car back on, no code. I did NOT drive it again yet. It was pouring rain outside while I tried resetting ecu as it was so I didn't want to be out there any longer.

MonkeyMagic

yeah i'd reset the computer like you did and see if the code comes back.

i'd bet it doesn't.