Flood & Water

[mph]

Today NE Ohio was hit with a whole shitload of rain. 9 inches of rain in less than 2 hours.

Anyways, on my way to a friends house, I ran into some water that was a lot deeper than the rest. My car died. I opened the door of my car to find the water 1/4 of an inch from pouring into the car. I turned the car off and pulled the keys from it and took my socks and shoes off and began to push the car back down the street away from all the water. The water was up to my knees (I'm 5'11"). I got the car up and out of the water and into a driveway. Car doesn't turn over now.

I'm hoping it was just the starter thats dead or that it needs to dry out, but I'm beginning to think my car is hydrolocked from all the water. The car is a stock suspension 325ix.

Has anyone had experience with water and flooding in an e30 like this before? If so, please chime in.

Right now the cars sitting on the other side of town in a cemetary driveway. Hopefully the cars not dead.

[arsevader]

Re: Flood & Water

Today NE Ohio was hit with a whole shitload of rain. 9 inches of rain in less than 2 hours.

Anyways, on my way to a friends house, I ran into some water that was a lot deeper than the rest. My car died. I opened the door of my car to find the water 1/4 of an inch from pouring into the car. I turned the car off and pulled the keys from it and took my socks and shoes off and began to push the car back down the street away from all the water. The water was up to my knees (I'm 5'11"). I got the car up and out of the water and into a driveway. Car doesn't turn over now.

I'm hoping it was just the starter thats dead or that it needs to dry out, but I'm beginning to think my car is hydrolocked from all the water. The car is a stock suspension 325ix.

Has anyone had experience with water and flooding in an e30 like this before? If so, please chime in.

Right now the cars sitting on the other side of town in a cemetary driveway. Hopefully the cars not dead.

I'm guessing an electrical problem. If it wasn't high enough to enter the car then it wouldn't have entered the intake. I'd guess something to do with the ground or the alternator.

James

[mph]

I have battery power, it just doesn't want to turn over.

Anyone on these boards have an e30 that was hydrolocked?

[Jordan]

Pull all 6 sparkplugs.

Attempt to "start" engine.

If the engine ingested water, it will get pumped out the spark plug holes.

Blow the holes out with compressed air after if you can

Replace spark plugs

Attempt to start.

If engine sounds horrid, turn it off, remove engine, replace with good used.

It only takes ~50cc's of ingested water in any 1 cylinder to hydrolock a m20b25.

[rs4pro3]

Don't try to start it anymore till you remove the spark plugs. Let the car dry out for a few days. And then see if watter will squirt out while cranking. I've rescued 2 hydrolocked m20's but in both cases about 3 months latter they threw rods. They got bent when the engine hydrolocked and finally gave way.
Also drain and replace all fluids in the diffs, tranny, engine etc.....

[mph]

The engine is hydrolocked for sure. I checked the oil level last night and the oil is watered down and there is too much fluid in there. I just changed the oil 400 miles ago so theres more than there should be in there. I don't know where the water entered the engine at seeing as it wasn't high enough for the intake.

I'm just going to let it be an insurance claim now. I think its going to need a new engine (mines only got 72,000 miles on it now). Might also be time for a tranny swap. How hard is a tranny swap on an iX? I'm not sure if I remember anyone with an iX doing it.

Anyways, this sucks.

[Jordan]

Just do what I told you to do, and report back. Don't worry about water in the oil right now.

[mph]

I pulled the plugs and attempted to start it. A bunch of water gurgled out of the holes so theres no doubt a shitload of water in there. I had to towed to a shop and the guys going to take a look at it. I made an insurance claim on it.

Lost my lip, maybe its now time for an 'is' lip.

Also, when it was being pulled up on the flatbed, a ton of water poured out of the tail pipe. It's also leaking coolant now as well.

It all sucks. I'll let you guys know what comes of it all.

[rs4pro3]

That's how my 85 325e only has 40k miles on the engine, watter went up the tailpipe and hydro locked the engine. I'd get the watter out of everything quick so it dosn't rust. First get it out of the cylinders, then drain the oil and refill, you probally got watter in the tranny fluid threw the seals but you never know. At least it wasn't the Euro ;)

[mph]

It sucks a lot. I didn't think the water was as deep as it was. I guess I'll probably get an engine rebuild for my $250 deductible. It was leaking tranny fluid as well, just got the call on that.

Thanks for the help guys.

[dude8383]

ouch that really sucks to loose a 70k engine..damn water!!

[mph]

Yeah, it really blows. The engine is going to need to be rebuilt or replaced. I know that much. I'm hoping for the replacement so I can do the manual swap. We'll see.

[dude8383]

a rebuild will be more costly..but the bright side is that you'll still have your low mileage engine :roll:

[mph]

As of now, it looks like its just going to be rebuilt. I'm okay with that. I'd much rather not have a 150,000 mile replacement engine.

[mph]

Update:
Timing belt jumped off and I have valves that are bent.