Help Water Flooded Car
 

Yes I know this is not a Mercedes I need yals help.

My girlfriend has a 99 Ford Taurus.

She drove through deep water, air filter is soaked.
Took out all 6 spark plugs 4 looked like they had water on them.
Now I have tried to turn the engine over to blow the water out and no luck. The engine will not turn over.

Do you think the engine is locked up?
How do I go about figuring out if the engine is toast/locked up?

Thanks
Kevin

Oil pan is full as well it is hydraulic looked the lower end as well

Kevin,
1) Is the starter functional?
2) does the starter cycle the engine? or does the starter lock up (spark plugs removed)? The latter would tell me that the block is locked up.


I highly doubt the bock would be locked up after encountering a little deep water. I have submerged a number of outboard motors and brought them right back to life, unless the block threw a rod, you should just need to let it air out and change the engine oil.

Is the starter functional? yes And we have a new battery.

does the starter cycle the engine? no not at all, it tyes but the engine does not turn over.

spark plugs removed)? yes still the engine will not turn over. just a clunck.

I took the srarter off it does work, then I put it back on just a loud clunck. not a clunck like a dead battery, just a loud clunck.

I think the engine is locked up.

I am not at my house I may need to get a large wrench and try to turn it over by hand.

Ok. locked block for sure.

get some ATF to help loosen the rings and a breaker bar and the correct socket/extension and go to town.

Take a good look at the block and inspect for physical damage. If you can free the block you may be in good shape.

The starter could pass a bench test, but not be able to turn the engine. If the intake filter got wet, then I assume that the starter was submerged in water. If it turns out that you can turn the engine by hand (I always use a socket on the crankshaft bolt)with the spark plugs still out, then you probably have a bad starter.

The started is new, not saying it didn't get damaged by the water.
I'm going to get a big socket and try to turn it over by hand.
Thanks for everyones help.
I will let you all know what happens.
Again..Thanks
Kevin

I tried a socket on the crankshaft bolt, nothing moved at all.
I am done.
thanks for yalls help.
I advised her to get a Mercedes ;)
Kevin

Is the starter off? Just checking...make sure the starter gear wasn't jammed against the flywheel teeth when you tried to turn it over by hand.

Next step, remove oil pan and check those connecting rods. If the intake sucked in water, there was no place for the pistons to go.

If water got in all the way up to the air filter, didn't the interior get drowned to the dashboard?

If yes, that car will only be in mint condition in Atlantis. The opportunites for rust, mildew, spores, bacteria, toxic gremlins, computer and electric problems should make it a total loss, even with Insurance companies.

A 9 year old Taurus is nobody's idea of a car worth salvaging or rebuilding.


Tell her next time to NEVER go throuh deep water like that. My guess is the engine got hydrolocked.


I would get the Insurance company to total it out, and she should buy another car better than this one was (which should not be hard)

Always amazes me people driving thru flooded streets at more than idle speed... Massive bow waves..

Once took 54 Ford pickup thru water over headlights.. disconnected fan belt.. made it thru....Very very slowly..

Ew, that sounds bad. I guess all of those severe rains in Florida from Fay is really causing havoc.

Hope things get better soon.

She has insurance so I am going to let them take it from hear.
Not too many people have full coverage insurance on a 99 ford Taurus. Good thing she did, if the insurance will cover this.
The water was inside the car about 4 inches when I got to the car.
The air intake is right inside the front bumper down low. Not good at all.
Thanks for everyones input and help.

Some states have laws that driving into high water is not really an accident, and is not covered by even the best of insurance coverage.

at least it wasent with your MB. . .Id kill mine if she did that to my SL-C. . .heck as is, she 'aint allowed to drive it. . .