How ya'll doing?! Well, this is kind of off topic, since I am not asking about a Honda, but... I still need some information from you guys, anyone that can give me a answer.

Today, a lot of rain and my mom drove through a big puddle, water the covered all 4 tires, and has done a potential damage to the vehicle, which is a 94 chevrolet cavalier.

My question is: When the car hidrolocks... and the water goes through the throtle body and intake manifold... where is it goind to stop? How far can the water reach, I mean... will it go to the very bottom of the engine as oil pan or something like that?

Guys, I know it's not a Honda and so I don't need to see anyone dissing me like "this is honda tech" or something, I need help.....

Also, I am not thinking or considering calling a mechaninc for this job, his price sounds just insane to me.... I rather do myself for the experience and the challange.

Members of Honda Tech, please help a brother out!!!
Thanks!!!!

 

Members.... does anyone have any idea?

 

hydro lock is when you get enough water into the compression chamber to where you cannot complete the compression stroke. Water is not compressable and it will usually cause some serious damage like breaking things.

In order to hydrolock your car you must have the water high enough to reach into the air box and down the intake. If the water was over the top of the wheels, it ain't a puddle you are driving through. If you are lucky, the engine just stopped and all you hve to do is remove all the plugs and crank away to get the water out.

Change oil trans fluid and any other fluid that got water in it.

 

The water went high enough to reach beyond the throtle body... sooo.. that obviously means that there's water inside of the freaking engine!
I need to open the engine to remove it right?

 

"all you hve to do is remove all the plugs and crank away to get the water out."

 

I'm sorry... but I don't get it... "crank away"... I really don't understand that part.... can you explain it to me please!

Thanks!

 

YeuEmMaiMai
Is correct, as far as he went.
Depending how long the water sat in the engine will determine how much leaked past the rings.
You'll need to change out the oil and filter.
If the engine was running during your Mom's attempt at racing submarines, or you tryed to crank it over b4 you drained it; get ready for some pretty wierd running conditions.
One of the Chevy Dealers where I worked as service manager had an '83 Camaro sudo Indy Pace Car show up with hydrolock (Customer bent the connecting rods from nothing more than trying to crank it over)

P

He was refering to the proceedure of removing the spark plugs and turning over the engine with the starter ("crank away"). That will pump out 98% of the water.

Edited for stupid spelling error......

Modified by P_Adams at 2:55 AM 10/23/2005


Modified by P_Adams at 3:15 PM 10/23/2005

 

Just turn the starter over, and the water will come out. Check the oil on the dip stick and see if it has water in it. Check the transmission fluid too.

 

Alright! Thanks guys... I'll be doing that tomorrow morning (sunday).

My mom only attempted to pass the "puddle" because other cars were doing the same...
Not only her, but other 5 cars didn't make through.....

Again, I'll try to put the information down on work tomorrow, thanks guys!

 

My friend has a cavalier and I'm just wondering. The car itself isn't exactly a SUV nor a ferrari height wise. Wouldn't water enter the vehicle itself if it reached the TB. So looking at the height of the cavalier the vehicle would have been at least in 2-3 feet of water Well try cranking the water out good luck

 

you'd be surprised how water tight most vehicles are...think about it they take a while to sink in a lake

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BLKFLSH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just turn the starter over, and the water will come out. Check the oil on the dip stick and see if it has water in it. Check the transmission fluid too.</TD></TR></TABLE>


did u hear what u just say????? it has possibly hydrolocked the engine and u advice him to just turn the starter over??? do u have any clues what will happen if there is water in the cylinders?????
Whatever u do DO NOT JUST TURN STARTER OVER till as stated before remove the plugs, drain all the oil , just in case the pan is full of water ,put new oil then turn it over i would do it by hand first just to feel the engine , if it spins by hand ( rachet and socket of course )easily with plugs out then crank it by starter

 

Well, I thought he already had the plugs out, and just didn't know what "crank away" meant. At least that's what he said. I should have repeated the take the plugs out part though.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BLKFLSH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well, I thought he already had the plugs out, and just didn't know what "crank away" meant. At least that's what he said. I should have repeated the take the plugs out part though.</TD></TR></TABLE>

no harm done but you gotta realize the level of intelligence we're dealing with here...his mom tried to raid a freaking river for crying out loud

 

Thanks guys!
I drained all the oil and water from the engine, I changed the transmission filter and oil pan gaskets...... ...I put new spark plugs and the car started again.... ...unfortunately... I think the whole thing messed up even more with the transmission.... and so.. the car only goes forward when it wants.... .....but yeah...

Thanks for all posts!!!

 

You should have changed all the fluids not just the motor fluids.

Good Luck

 

Unless your car stopped violently, you didn't hydrolock it. But, before you crank it PULL YOUR PLUGS, like stated above. Also, very important and not mentioned, pull the wire from your coil to your distrutor and your ignition fuse if too. That way you don't have sparks flying when you crank it. May as well pull the fuel pump fuse while you are at it. That way you are safe. Then crank it and try to get all that crap out if you did get water in. Then change your oil.

 

I fixed the car while the hurricane Wilma was destroying the neighborhood and everything else where I live.... after that.... I got the car started... went for a test drive... but.... the transmission of the car had been bad for some time already... ...and know.. it is not engaging the gears properly.
I spent a little more than 50 dollars with stuff to fix the problem, but I guess... the transmission has finally given up. It drives for a few minutes, then slips.... the drives... then slips.... I don't care about the car, but it's my mom that is feeling sorry for the problem. She just got a job and know she don't even have a car to go to work.... ....and right now... it is going to be a mess for who knows how long... since there's not too many lights working or cops helping at crossings.... it takes me more than one hour to drop her at work and go to my job...
But... the car starts and works... ...transmission is messed up!