HELP: Hydroplaned today and now car won't start
#1
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HELP: Hydroplaned today and now car won't start
I was driving to work, and hydroplaned into the grass and down a small hill. I got stuck in the mud in a small ditch. So I got someone to pull me out, and now it wont start. Seemed like the battery was dead, so we got jumper cables. It started to turn over but wouldn't completely start. Only time it would, was when I would pump the gas pedal and it would die after I let off the gas. And there seemed to be a small rattling sound. Then we waited a little while and tried again and it won't even crank now. I've been told there is a fuel pump reset button or a computer reset button u have to hit when the car is shaken like that. Is this true? Any help?
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Did you check and make sure everything is OK underneath the car? There could be damage from your off-road excursion.
If everything looks fine try disconnecting the battery for a minute.
If everything looks fine try disconnecting the battery for a minute.
#10
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The fuel pump won't keep the car from cranking. If it isn't operating properly it will keep the engine from firing and running on its own but has nothing to do with cranking with the starter. The car does not have a carb on it so pumping the gas pedal is an exercise in futility. If you hold the gas pedal to the floor that will put the system into clear flood mode and shut off fuel flow while you crank the engine to clear gas out of the cylinders.
I would be concerned that the engine could be hydro locked. A Vararam is a lot more susceptible to sucking water into the intake than the stock intake. If you threw up a wall of water in front of the car when you hit the water you hydroplaned in you could have driven right into it and sucked water into the intake. Cranking the engine over without clearing water out of the intake could have gotten water in the cylinders which would lock the engine so the starter couldn't turn it over.
Bill
I would be concerned that the engine could be hydro locked. A Vararam is a lot more susceptible to sucking water into the intake than the stock intake. If you threw up a wall of water in front of the car when you hit the water you hydroplaned in you could have driven right into it and sucked water into the intake. Cranking the engine over without clearing water out of the intake could have gotten water in the cylinders which would lock the engine so the starter couldn't turn it over.
Bill
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Pull the spark plugs and see if water comes out. Then crank the engine to see if you can force some out. If you are lucky there won't be any water in the cylinders. If you are less lucky and find water then maybe it didn't do any damage. Even less lucky and you will be talking to your insurance company about a comprehensive claim to replace the engine.
Bill
Bill
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#19
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I'm sure there must be more to it than that. I would make sure I had it gone through by a knowledgeable mechanic. You are likely going to need a new air filter, amongst other stuff.
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