Water affected 2008 subaru impreza wont start
Submitted: Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 07:54
ThreadID:
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Brian B (Mackay Qld)
Hi all,
Due to the flooding here in mackay, alot of things got wet.
But it has got me wondering, why wont our brand new car start when it has been left turned off and sitting in rising flood water at
home in a carport.
Only came to 5mm above the bottom door seal on the passenger side (water level water lucky to reach the middle of the wheel).
It is a 2008 subaru impreza, with wet carpet, dry engine bay, flickering electrics, no starting noises except for clicking noises. I jacked up one side to drain a little water out of the muffler.
We rang RACQ yesterday to come and at least have a look (no cost since we are members) and they said they are 4hrs away. They rang back 1 hr later to say they wont come and look at it and it is automatically an insurance job(which will cost us an excess of $350).
Even if it is insurance, they could at least look at it and diagnose for free (
membership), but they wont because it is mackay.
We could maybe let is dry more, maybe charge the battery? and wait for the wet weather to completely go away and try again later,it may come good.
It may be something simple but i am no mechanic, so if anyone may know a cause or a simple fix that is worth a try, has had something similar happen before and found a fix, please reply.
Thanks for your constructive comments.
Reply By: landed eagle - Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 08:26
Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 08:26
I'm no mechanic either, but did the starter motor get submerged for a while. The solenoid could be full of water or even the whole motor.
If it's a 2008 model....good luck. Gone are the days of lifting the bonnet,easily removing stuff and fixing it!
Hope you get it going!
AnswerID:
287884
Follow Up By: Brian B (Mackay Qld) - Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 08:59
Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 08:59
the motor did not get wet at all, just the exhaust and bottom of the radiator.
Thanks anyway
FollowupID:
553172
Reply By: happytravelers - Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 08:32
Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 08:32
Brian
Sorry to hear of all the trouble you and others in Mackay are having. As for your Subaru, if water got inside there's a good chance the electronics have got wet, there is possibly control modules under the seats and also under the centre console. If you could some how get it towed to the nearest Subaru dealer to at least diagnose which modules are affected and go from there, but I'm afraid it could
well turn into an insurance job.
Hope things get back to normal as quickly as possible for you.
Regards Jon
AnswerID:
287885
Follow Up By: Oldsquizzy (Kununurra) - Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 08:55
Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 08:55
Computors are on the passenger side floor and also kickboard.
FollowupID:
553170
Follow Up By: Brian B (Mackay Qld) - Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 09:01
Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 09:01
the carpet soaked up water, but the seats were completely high and dry, no water puddles, just soggy carpet
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Oldsquizzy (Kununurra) - Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 09:17
Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 09:17
They are under the carpet and a removable tin panel
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Brian B (Mackay Qld) - Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 09:40
Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 09:40
is there any drain bungs around the floor?
and is there any easy way to remove the carpet?
FollowupID:
553184
Reply By: Member - Tour Boy (Springsure- Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 08:56
Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 08:56
I'd start with using a multi meter and checking the battery.
If that is OK then your insurance Co will probably give you a new
one as it is less than 2 years old anyway.
I wouldn't muck around too much as the insurance Co may blame you for the problem saying you caused it whilst trying to get it going.
I hope the house and family are all Ok.
Regards
Dave
AnswerID:
287888
Follow Up By: Brian B (Mackay Qld) - Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 09:02
Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 09:02
the battery appeared to be flat, dont know why. now on charge and all the electrics have come back to normal. checked the battery by trying the power windows and headlights.
thanks for ur help
FollowupID:
553175
Follow Up By: Member - Tour Boy (Springsure- Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 09:08
Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 09:08
I'll have a stab (probably wrong) but if you leave a battery on the ground the earth will drain it.
In a vehicle the tyres and proximity to the ground will insulate the battery from this phenonomen.
I an guessing that water touching the rims for a length of time will cause discharge of the battery by removing the insulation properties of the tyres thru earthing to ground.
Thoughts anyone?
Regards
Dave
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Brian B (Mackay Qld) - Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 09:21
Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 09:21
i just rang my cousin, who is an industrial electrician, he said that if there are both positive and negative touching or sitting in water somewhere on the car, it will drain a battery.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Tour Boy (Springsure- Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 09:41
Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 09:41
Well there you go.
Hopefully that's all that's wrong.
You will still need a good detail to get the carpets back to normal and hopefull the computer didn't get wet.
Dave
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Stephen F (VIC) - Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 11:09
Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 11:09
G'day Brian sorry to here about your bad luck mate this happened to me about 3 years ago in an 98 wrx.
If i was you i would disconnect the battery pull out you seats and carpet in my car there is an engine control unit in the front passengers feet area, this got wet all i did was disconnect and use a circuit board cleaner to remove any moisture.
And just a thought dose your insurance cover any of this?
Regards.........Stephen
AnswerID:
287913
Reply By: Brian B (Mackay Qld) - Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 12:25
Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 12:25
All good now, just waiting for carpet to dry.
Car started up fine after a few hours on charge.
Went for drive, runs like normal, just wet feet.
AnswerID:
287931
Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 15:44
Sunday, Feb 17, 2008 at 15:44
Hard to keep a good sooby down..lol.
Cheers Axle
FollowupID:
553237
Follow Up By: Member - Olcoolone (S.A) - Monday, Feb 18, 2008 at 08:50
Monday, Feb 18, 2008 at 08:50
Maybe to do with the starter motor battery lead from the battery to the starter, may of been under water for a while and with water being conductive may of caused a resistance from the positive wire to earth.
Regards Richard
FollowupID:
553353