Why does my car stall when I hit a puddle?
Driving through deep puddles can cause a cracked catalytic converter. This device operates at high temperatures and is part of the exhaust system. When it comes in contact with cold water, rapid contraction can crack its sides and potentially cause the vehicle to stall.
What happens if your catalytic converter gets wet?
Even water getting in the tailpipe can cause serious damage. The catalytic converter can be ruined — a $1,000 repair — and it may not be noticed until failing an emissions test.
Can a car run after being submerged in water?
Don’t try to start the car. If there’s water in the engine, transmission or fuel system, you’ll just compound the damage. The mechanical systems and the interior can be dried out or cleaned with a lot of labor, but the electrical systems on modern cars are extremely complex.
How do you fix a flooded water engine?
This is basically what you should do with the engine.
- Check the oil dipstick to see if there is any water contamination.
- Loosen oil drain plug and release any water.
- Remove the spark plugs.
- Change the oil and filter.
- Crank the engine with the plugs out – be sure that all water sprays out of the engine.
Can a puddle of water cause a car to start?
There is a good chance that water got into the sensitive electronics of your vehicle. Having a trained professional inspect your vehicle is the only way to determine the exact cause of your starting problem. The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified.
What happens if you stall your car in water?
At the very least, you may expect serious thermal shock damage to the catalytic converter core, and possibly a completely flooded engine. In the above scenario, where the car stalled with water above the level of the exhaust ports in the engine, then water would flood up through the manifold and into the cylinders.
What does it mean when your car splashes through a puddle?
Splashing through deep puddles — those no deeper than about 6 inches, or slightly above the bottom of the oil pan — is common enough that most manufacturers build cars to account for it. If a quick dunk into a puddle or a brief splash causes your engine to stall, then odds are water got into something electrical and shorted it.
What to do when your car goes through a puddle?
The car went almost all the way through the puddle, and then it turned off. I had to use the emergency neutral lever so we could push it out of the way. I was able to push the car the few remaining blocks to my house. Then, I tried turning the car back on but it says ‘service transmission’.