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[toller]

Just after some opinions as to what direction to take wiht my omega.  We've had some heavy rain overnight and my road had flooded, it wasn't too deep and i got thourgh it ok but on the way back I was forced onto the other side of the road by a range rover tanking it thourhg the water, this was much deeper and to make it worse he made a huge wave which came right up the side of my car.

The engine stopped (I didn't even attempt to restart it) and i had to wade home.  I've managed to borrow someone with a tractor and he's just towed me home, however in the 30 minutes between me leaving the car and getting abck to it int he tractor the passenger side footwell had totally filled with water.

From what I can see the reason it stopped is because the exhaust was totally submerged at the back, at the front the water was just touching the bottom of the bumper,  all the elctrics still work but i've not tried starting it yet.  The water didn't get anywhere near the air intake so i'm hoping it hasn't got into the engine.

Am I likley to ahve suffered any catastropic damge with this or is it just a case of letting it dry out and all being well everything should be ok.

I dind't pay a lot for the car but if i have to claim on the insurance it's going to leave me without any transport for a bit whihc will be a major pain.

 [smiley=vrolijk_1.gif]

[Elite Pete]

I would take the plugs out before considering turning it over and an oil and filter change. I would also check the air filter to see if that is wet. but first I would find the Range Rover driver and hold his head under the water for a few minutes

[Kevin Wood]

Water doesn't compress so it's vital that any water is removed from the cylinders before you try to start it. As pete said, remove the plugs, take out the engine management relay to disable the ignition and injection and crank the engine over to blow any water out of the plug holes. Then check the whole induction system for water (air filter, bagpipes, etc.). It would probably be a good bet to renew the air filter if it got wet.

After that, I'd put it together and run it up to temperature checking for any unusual noises. Might be worth taking the cam belt cover off and checking if there's any muck in there. A bit of water probably won't hurt the cam belt and pullies unless they have sat underwater for long enough for it to get into the pulley bearings, but if the water has brought a load of mud into the workings that won't do it any good.

Bear in mind the catalytic converters might not have taken kindly to being quenched with cold water so look for signs of them rattling.

Have a look behind the lenses of the lights for moisture and dry them out if necessary before the reflectors rust and the connections corrode.

Kevin

[toller]

I've just been and had a look under the bonnet, the air filter is wet, it's not sopping wet but it's more than damp however there isn't any water or dampness in the housing above the airfilter or leading into the air intake into the engine.

Can;t really do anything with it until the rain stops and if anything it's getting worse.  It's like a bloody monsoon.

[Kevin Wood]

Sounds like the air filter probably took a soaking and caught the majority of the water then. Once wet, I'd imagine they're not very free flowing so that's probably what strangled the engine.

If there's any doubt as to whether water got any further in, I'd crank it over without plugs as water in a cylinder may mean a bent rod when you try and start it.


Kevin

[Baz006]

We have the same problem here. Our only road in and out is a single track un-made road. It has a slight dip in it about half way along and gets surprisingly deep. This weekend has been a deluge, the road is totally immersed.....about 2-3 feet I reckon. The missus tried to go out earlier and said it came up to the centre of the wheels before getting anywhere near half way in. She hastily retreated as it just aint worth the risk. At worst I reckon your mega just got damp but do check there is no water in the cylinders before you try to light her up. Good luck  

[Kevin Wood]

Reading all this, I'm glad I live 600 feet above sea level.  

It's a pain in the @rse if I want to go anywhere on a push bike (always a hill to climb on the way home) but if I ever get a flooded Omega we're in trouble!.

Kevin

[Dave-C]

Reading all this, I'm glad I live 600 feet above sea level.  

It's a pain in the @rse if I want to go anywhere on a push bike (always a hill to climb on the way home) but if I ever get a flooded Omega we're in trouble!.

Kevin

Watch out for low flying planes!  

[toller]

JUst an update.  It looks like the engine did suck a load of water in.  Just had the bagpipes off and the aluminium housig below them was filled with water.  Water was dribbling out of the throttle butterflies too.

To top it all it looks like ym rocker gaskets have blown again, spark plug wells swimming in oil

[JasonH]

A friend of mine flooded a Rover 220i. Water came in the car doors and went into the footwells, the engine stalled.

Got the car towed home, spark plugs out, turned it over and a lot of water came out the spark plug holes.

When clear put the plugs back in and the car spluttered back into life and was fine after that.

[toller]

Just done exactly that,  6 fountains of water when i cranked it without sparkplugs and a lot of oil and gunk sprayed everywhere.  Put it all back together, fired it up and even more water out of the exhaust and it eventually spluttered back to life, another 10 minutes of it starting and then dying eventually saw it start and then carry on running.  

It now looks like it's running OK although my engine management light is on permanently now (to be expected is suppose).  At the very least it'll be needing a new air flow meter as the one on the car is drenched.

Just going to go and flash out the codes now to see what else is kaput.

[toller]

Well it would appear the only fault code i'm getting is for the MAF so i'd say i've been incredibly lucky not to have done more damage.

Still need to vax the insdie of the car out though.

Many thanks for the help people ahve given me on here too.

If we get any more rain and floods don't try and take your omega through it, get out and walk and get wet, it's much easier than faffing about removing a gallon of water from your engine

[Elite Pete]

Glad its turned out OK. I think you have saved yourself alot of time and money by having the sense not to try and restart it after it got flooded

[TheBoy]

I know you've flashed out a maf code, but do ensure the maf is faulty before condemming it....

[toller]

I was going to take it inside and leave it on a radiator to totally dry out and then try it again.  I was under the impression air flow sensors are quite delicate and this particular one took a very big soaking.

I'd love to be proved wrong though, owt to save myself 20 quid