I was driving back to my girlfriends flat yesterday afternoon and got caught in a flash flood, water pouring out of the drains, it flooded all the roads within five minutes up to the bottom of the car at the peak point and then subsided to nothing about ten minutes later. I didn't realise it was rising fast at that point and carried on at a very slow pace (yes, I realise this was a bad choice now).

I have a CAI snorkle on the car, so the air intake is very low down at the front, but as the road dipped slightly I managed to suck in some water and stall the engine. At that point it wouldn't turn over anymore, there was just a clunk from the starter motor. The engine rpm was pretty much at idle as this happened.

After getting out the AA, who weren't very optimistic and telling me how reliable Honda's are, the plugs were removed and the engine cranked over, throwing out a bit of water. Put it all back together again, a lot of cranking later and it sprung back into life.

Seems I've been very very lucky! All seems fine, although I have found that my spark plugs are in a terrible state, doesn't look like they were changed during the relevant service. I have taken it for a short drive and other than more noise at around 2-3k RPM, which I can't figure out if it's the exhaust or induction (due to the removal of the CAI, I don't have the other parts of the airbox to hand to replace), I can't fault it.

I assume if I'd done any terminal damage, I'd have some more unusual knocking noises or worst case the thing wouldn't run at all? Do you think I should perhaps report the incident to my insurance company so that in the event of a failure I could claim for it due to flood damage?

I'll be changing those plugs and the oil as soon as possible. I only use the car for pleasure, so I'm not going to be doing any mileage in it until that's done. Oh and the CAI is staying off with all this freak weather!

 

Very very lucky indeed, I would change sparks, and oil and filter just to be on the safe side, also clean air filter

Kiwi

 

Wouldn't be a bad idea to stick a scope down the plug'oles, just to have a look.

Also check small-ends for play.

 

Thanks for the advice, will have a look.

How can I check for play in the small ends? How much play should there be? I'm guessing I'd need to put something down the plug holes to check? The annoying thing is that I am at my girlfriends home and all my tools are back at my home about 90 miles away (a drive I am reluctant to do until I am 100% happy).

I cannot believe I did this, very stupid!

 

what CAI were you using?

 

Change all the neccesary bits, I got caught in a flood in my old astra, 2 weeks later it completely died on me. (was a pile of crap though)

 

The Spoon type, original filter and box, just the snorkle taking the air from down below. Was on the car when I bought it.

 

What failed on the Astra?

 

Wasn't there a guy in Lancaster recently who managed to drive for a couple of days afterwards before it was terminal ??

Don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but if you have got away with it you were very lucky.

 

hmm..

the starter might not have worked due to shorting electrics i suppose?

How much water came out? it's pretty terminal if water was compressed in your pistons (bearings will be shot).. BUT if it sounds ok... at the end of the day if the damage is done it's new engine time anyways so you may as well drive imho

fingers crossed