I was driving to the bus stop this morning and it was raining. I go through a puddle I didn't really notice too well, car suddenly stops. Figured that water prob got into the CAI, so I pull it to the side out of the puddle and check the spark plugs. They don't seem to be wet or anything. I let the car off for 15-20 minutes and nothing; no crank. I did have some attempt but no luck.

What would be the problem here? I'm hoping the pistons didn't break or anything. Any ideas? 5th gen Civic EX coupe.

Thanks.

 

First take off the four spark plugs and try to rotate the engine by the crank with a 1/2 ratchet. Maybe you get hydro lock.

If the engine rotate smoothly then check for spark and fuel.

 

What would be the worst case scenario if I got hydro lock?

 

bent connecting rods...new engine

 

Update: I don't have time to crank the engine or look at it thoroughly right now, but I went to the car just to see if I had any luck. It cranked for a second and it seemed like it wanted to start but then it stopped. No crank after that.

 

This can bend or snap a rod sometimes with a hole in the block along with spun bearings. I've seen cracked pistons but not sure is it cause the owner still try to start it or in the hydro lock per se.

try to do it by hand if it seized or just turn a little and it stuck, It's time for a new engine.

 

Worse case scenario, how much would an engine be, with the swap?

 

Sounds like a bad ground or a fried dizzy...

When you say it doesn't crank, do you mean it spins and the starter works, or you mean you turn the key and it doesn't do anything at all? You need to learn how to give more information...

 

Sounds like that wasn't a small puddle by any means.

If you do not have 5-10 minutes to put a socket onto the front of the crank and spin the engine then we won't know truly what it is. For all we know you could have moved a ground when taking the dip in the puddle, or worse, hydrolocked the engine. Also, when you attempt to start the engine, does it just click?

 

You haven't told us what car you have, what year it is, what trim it is, and you expect us to tell you how much a replacement motor would cost?

Does it spin and not start, or does it not spin?