expo underwater question!!!please help

[hardazz04]

I sunk my explorer underwater yesterday at a pond.. once my hood and engine went underwater I killed my engine and then had a buddy pull me out with my truck in neutral and the engine off... once the truck was out and on dry land It wouldnt start... I would get just a click almost like the battery was dead but keep in mind all my power windows, radio, and accessories worked...

Is there anything wrong with my engine? im hoping someone out there will know because I have no clue!!! could water have gotten into my engine through my intake? what can I do to fix this??? please help me

 

[espnfreak]

Take all your spark plugs out, make sure you dont have any water in your exhaust by unpolting it, and then try to spin the motor with the plugs out for awhile to throw any water out. You also might need a new battery. Then you should probably change the oil before you start it up. But if you do this you can *probably* get the truck to start. I sunk mine in like 3' of water, had water inside the truck and in the exhaust and engine. We got the water out of the exhaust, got the water out of the engine by taking the plugs out and spinning it, and we cleaned the interior of the truck, and even though the truck was in a flood, it runs good. I would be very careful about your transmission as well, make sure you change that asap. I had to drive back home from michigan to IL and i lost 2nd gear. Try that out and let us know what happens.

 

[JDraper]

Yep, you hydrolocked your motor. That means you sucked water in through your intake. Do what espnfreak said, except turn the motor over by hand with a socket on the crankshaft pulley not with the starter so you don't bend/break your connecting rods. Did you kill the motor by turning off the key, or did it die by itself? If you turned it off with the key, you probably didn't do any damage, but if it died by itself.........You might have bent/broken valves or connecting rods.

Once you do get it going (we'll be optimistic here), make sure you change out ALL your fluids. Engine, tranny, xfer case, and axles. You might also want to flush your braking system if you got in that deep.

 

[espnfreak]

Yeah, I went into that puddle full throttle and the engine just died, so I must have got very lucky that I didn't break any connecting rods. You should be ok, these 4.0 motors are built pretty strong, and there have been quite a few who have sucked in water here who have never had problems

 

[hardazz04]

thanks for the quick replies!!! my engine did not die I turned it off luckily!!!! so what I want to do Is take out all the spark plugs and turn the engine.. right? do I do this with a socket and where is it located at that I turn?
I did this last night I think it should be pretty dried out know also my window on my passenger side will not roll up is there any way to get it up--electric locks
I took pictures of it and as soon as I get them developed I will post them

 

[hardazz04]

one more ? is it nesscesary to change my oil before I start it?? I'm on private property and I have to get my truck out of there ASAP--- I will cange my oil as soon as I get home which is like 5 miles.....thank you

 

[JDraper]

You turn the crankshaft with a socket. The socket is located in the lower center pulley on the front of the motor.

 

[hardazz04]

alright thank you soo much I feel like a dumbass for asking these questions, but you have to learn sometime

what about the oil can I hold out changing it till I get home?

 

[JDraper]

Probably. Pull the dipstick and take a look at the condition. If it's way over full, I'd change it on the spot because water is probably in there. If it's at normal levels, you can probably drive it home. Sounds like you need a Snorkle!!!

 

[espnfreak]

You should probably make it ok. the reason i changed mine was because it was so sick and sandy. being just water you might be ok...but just change it anyways...get some cheap crappy oil, throw it in there, and then after u get it running again, put some nicer stuff in

 

[hardazz04]

alright I was working on my truck just know and I got the right side of motors spark plugs out.... but what about the leftside--the accessories to the engine are blocking them does any one know how to get around that??? also is my engine going tobe all rusted out?

 

[JDraper]

You mean the passenger's side plugs, correct?? They're considered the right side plugs. The driver's side plugs are considered the left side plugs and they are considerably easier to get out.
You can get to the right side plugs, but it takes a little work and it helps to be a contortionist. Usually you need some extensions and wobbly head adapter to get to them. The first two aren't too bad, but the last one is a PITA. I usually crawl under the truck and go in up along the frame rail to get that one. It will take some work.

The motor shouldn't be rusted out. It takes a lot longer than a couple of days to rust it since most components are covered with a film of oil anyways.

 

[hardazz04]

Got the pictures developed how do i post them?
by time i got off work it was dark so i couldnt work on my truck but tommarow is the day....In a days time are you sure I wont have rust problems?? and when I turn my engine from the pully will that get all the water out?
One more and I will leave you guys alone!!! I cant take my exhaust off to drain it that way will that affect anything?
ps I took my battery in and it was tottally dead so thats a good sign for the truck not turning over.

 

[hardazz04]

http://members.cardomain.com/hardazz04

here are my pics crazy huh?

 

[mhn3773]

i dont think u want to start the engine with water in the exh. becuase corect me if im wrong and i proly am but doesnt the engine take in a deep breath then fire so wouldnt u just suck that water back into the exh....i was always told if the truck dies in the water up to the exh pull it out becuase if u fire it up itl suck up water

 

[Mbrooks420]

If you can't take of the exhaust I'd drill a few small holes and weld over them when I was done. I'd change the oil at least 3 times to get out all of the water.

also is my engine going tobe all rusted out?

Do you mean inside? I'd really get to it ASAP. A days work usually isn't worth an engine.

 

[JDraper]

You should be able to split the exhaust at the rear of the catalytic converter. Ususally there are two spring loaded bolts that hold the rear portion of the exhaust to the cat converter. Unbolt it there, and then jack the nose of the vehicle up to drain any water in the forward part of the exhaust. You should be able to remove the rear part of the exhaust intact if you take off the passenger's side rear wheel and the right rear shock. It will take some manuevering, but it should come out. the exhaust is hung on rubber bushings all the way back. Once it's out, stand the pipe on end to drain the water and you should be good to go. You don't have to get it dry inside, just need to get the majority of it out. Engine compression will remove any remnanats in a hurry.

 

[sk1er17]

hey, i did this to mine (except the water wasnt above my hood) and my engine died on its own, the intake sucked in the water. None ever showed up in my oil but i still changed it a few times to be safe.

The passenger side spark plugs are easy as hell if you take off your tire and go through the wheel well.

 

[hardazz04]

alright after a long ass day I finnally got it started and runing... I couldnt get the exhaust off and when I started it alot of water flew out of my exhaust then it started white smoking!!! well anyways the white smoking went away but then the transmission started acting funny when my truck tries to shift into 2nd gear it hesitates revs up, I have to let off the gas to let it shift why is this? what can I do to fix this>?

ps. In the process of me working on my truck 5 cops came (one with a sniper riffel) and threatened to take me to jail!!! I was on private property and the owners called the cops because they thought I was either cooking drugs or stripping a truck down. keep in mind you have to take trails to get where I was so the cop was posting up about 500 yards away with the sniper riffel!!! No bullshit

 

[Nate1]

Sheesh! Sniper rifle?! You musta caused some trouble!
You should change ALL your fluids ASAP.
Transmission, coolant, oil, diffy fluid, transfercase fluid.... everything you can think of.
I would bet money your cooking your trannie with horrible fluid from putting the lines under water. Do NOT drive it untill you change it all!