Got stuck and partially "flooded", seeking advice

PentaGang · 04-20-2012, 06:29 AM

Yesterday I went off work at 6pm, then drove my 11 2.5X into nearby national forest to explore a dried pond I found on google earth. Had some mud fun there, but the last try was not very careful and got stuck...Luckily there were some guys playing ATV nearby, they went home and drove a 4X4 truck back to the hole and towed me out. My Forrie was sitting in mud for about half an hour, there was maybe 3 inch muddy water at the passenger side, and I didnt know how bad it was in the engine bay...but the two exhaust were not merged. The car could not crank after that, although the lights and window still work, the battery is not wet at all.
I ended up calling AAA for a flatbed and got the car home almost midnight. My wife gives me a silence treatment, which worries me more...

Now my thought is just letting the car dry out for another day or two, then trying to start it. If not, which parts would be the on checking list?

Please guys, give me some advice, much appreciated

bobbotron · 04-20-2012, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PentaGang

Yesterday I went off work at 6pm, then drove my 11 2.5X into nearby national forest to explore a dried pond I found on google earth. Had some mud fun there, but the last try was not very careful and got stuck...Luckily there were some guys playing ATV nearby, they went home and drove a 4X4 truck back to the hole and towed me out. My Forrie was sitting in mud for about half an hour, there was maybe 3 inch muddy water at the passenger side, and I didnt know how bad it was in the engine bay...but the two exhaust were not merged. The car could not crank after that, although the lights and window still work, the battery is not wet at all.
I ended up calling AAA for a flatbed and got the car home almost midnight. My wife gives me a silence treatment, which worries me more...

Now my thought is just letting the car dry out for another day or two, then trying to start it. If not, which parts would be the on checking list?

Please guys, give me some advice, much appreciated

Sorry to hear about your mishap! Could you provide more details as to what happened when it got stuck? Did the engine cut out, or did you shut it off when you got bogged down? There were some other threads about this kind of accident recently, it can be a problem if you've sucked water into your engine. I hope it hasn't happened with yours!

PentaGang · 04-20-2012, 07:02 AM

I tried to rock it out but failed, then I just turn down the engine and shift to neutral.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbotron

Sorry to hear about your mishap! Could you provide more details as to what happened when it got stuck? Did the engine cut out, or did you shut it off when you got bogged down? There were some other threads about this kind of accident recently, it can be a problem if you've sucked water into your engine. I hope it hasn't happened with yours!

TC2000 · 04-20-2012, 09:15 AM

If it was running before you shut it off your probably ok motor wise, but your going to have to pull the carpet and see what all has gotten wet under there.

upflying · 04-20-2012, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PentaGang

The car could not crank after that

Do you mean the engine would not rotate when trying to start it?
That could mean hydraulic lock, water got into the cylinders.

toysbyus · 04-20-2012, 11:50 AM

....possibly move yourself into the basement before you wife tells you to????

upflying · 04-20-2012, 12:00 PM

IIWY, call the insurance company and tell them what happened.
Take that decal off the left rear passenger door before the insurance adjuster looks at it.

PentaGang · 04-20-2012, 12:13 PM

Really hope this is not the case...

Both exhaust were not merged, and the air intake was not dripping water(just feel wet)

My hope is that only the starting coil got wet...

Quote:

Originally Posted by upflying

Do you mean the engine would not rotate when trying to start it?
That could mean hydraulic lock, water got into the cylinders.

Blue Fox · 04-20-2012, 01:00 PM

Does the motor turn over at all? Does it just not start, or is it not even trying to turn over? If water got into the pistons, you would need to take out the spark plugs, and manually turn the motor over by hand (using the crank bolt and a breaker bar) and get the water out before trying to actually start the car, or you'll destroy the motor. In actuality, this should have been the first thing done even if you suspect water got into the motor.

flstffxe · 04-20-2012, 01:04 PM

ECU is in the passenger foot well, they don't like water.

Blue Fox · 04-20-2012, 01:10 PM

^^ To add to this. Once you do get your engine up and running again (and hopefully there is no damage done). I would change the oil immediately, then run some SeaFoam in it that will help to wick out any trapped water/moisture. I would also run SeaFoam in the gas, as well as run it through the vacuum lines a couple of times over the next month.

BrbnCwby · 04-20-2012, 02:26 PM

Put it up for the FOTM.

AWDFTW · 04-20-2012, 05:14 PM

Also, you're gonna want to change out your front diff fluid now.

SubieOutlaw · 04-20-2012, 06:11 PM

WOW. Sorry about the mishap. This reminds me of an off road trip near Calgary. A puddle looked shallow until I started to throw some rocks into it. Then used a stick to measure it. 2 feet deep.

As mentioned, remove decal and call the insurance adjuster. Accidents happen while going to the campsite all the time.

yallahyimshi · 04-20-2012, 10:45 PM

an offroad advice i was given in romania from an experienced driver was not to turn of the engine when getting stuck in the water, even if the exhausts are out of it an only the nose is under water... hopefully everything is ok with your ride

04-20-2012, 06:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
PentaGang Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 30 Location: Florida Car Year: 2011 Car Model: 2.5 X Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Got stuck and partially "flooded", seeking advice Yesterday I went off work at 6pm, then drove my 11 2.5X into nearby national forest to explore a dried pond I found on google earth. Had some mud fun there, but the last try was not very careful and got stuck...Luckily there were some guys playing ATV nearby, they went home and drove a 4X4 truck back to the hole and towed me out. My Forrie was sitting in mud for about half an hour, there was maybe 3 inch muddy water at the passenger side, and I didnt know how bad it was in the engine bay...but the two exhaust were not merged. The car could not crank after that, although the lights and window still work, the battery is not wet at all. I ended up calling AAA for a flatbed and got the car home almost midnight. My wife gives me a silence treatment, which worries me more... Now my thought is just letting the car dry out for another day or two, then trying to start it. If not, which parts would be the on checking list? Please guys, give me some advice, much appreciated Attached Thumbnails Last edited by PentaGang; 04-20-2012 at 06:30 AM. Reason: typo

04-20-2012, 09:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
TC2000 Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,036 Location: Delmont, Pennsylvania Car Year: 2009 Car Model: Forester X Premium Gallery: 39 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	If it was running before you shut it off your probably ok motor wise, but your going to have to pull the carpet and see what all has gotten wet under there. __________________ 2009 Forester X Premium 4EAT Respect The Wagon!

04-20-2012, 11:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
toysbyus Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,616 Location: New Hampshire Car Year: 2003 Car Model: Forester Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	....possibly move yourself into the basement before you wife tells you to???? __________________ 2003 X AT

04-20-2012, 01:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
Blue Fox Smooshed FOTY 2011 Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4,260 Location: Durango, Colorado Car Year: 2005 Car Model: Forester 2.5 XT Transmission: 5-Speed MT Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Does the motor turn over at all? Does it just not start, or is it not even trying to turn over? If water got into the pistons, you would need to take out the spark plugs, and manually turn the motor over by hand (using the crank bolt and a breaker bar) and get the water out before trying to actually start the car, or you'll destroy the motor. In actuality, this should have been the first thing done even if you suspect water got into the motor. __________________ 2004 XT - RIP 2005 XT - 5MT - JOURNAL

04-20-2012, 01:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
flstffxe Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6,556 Location: Coon Rapids, MN Car Year: 2008 Car Model: Forester X Premium Transmission: 5MT Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	ECU is in the passenger foot well, they don't like water. __________________ His - 08 X Prem 5mt Hers - 08 X 4EAT Subaru oil filter comparison

04-20-2012, 12:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
upflying Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 529 Location: Antioch, Ca Car Year: 2012 Car Model: Outback Limited Transmission: cvt Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	IIWY, call the insurance company and tell them what happened. Take that decal off the left rear passenger door before the insurance adjuster looks at it.

04-20-2012, 01:10 PM	#11 (permalink)
Blue Fox Smooshed FOTY 2011 Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4,260 Location: Durango, Colorado Car Year: 2005 Car Model: Forester 2.5 XT Transmission: 5-Speed MT Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	^^ To add to this. Once you do get your engine up and running again (and hopefully there is no damage done). I would change the oil immediately, then run some SeaFoam in it that will help to wick out any trapped water/moisture. I would also run SeaFoam in the gas, as well as run it through the vacuum lines a couple of times over the next month. __________________ 2004 XT - RIP 2005 XT - 5MT - JOURNAL

04-20-2012, 02:26 PM	#12 (permalink)
BrbnCwby Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 15 Location: chicago Car Year: 2008 Car Model: 2.5x premium Transmission: auto Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Put it up for the FOTM.

04-20-2012, 05:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
AWDFTW Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 723 Location: Chicago Car Year: 2003 Car Model: Outback Gallery: 2 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Also, you're gonna want to change out your front diff fluid now. __________________ 2003 Outback 2.5 AWP.

04-20-2012, 06:11 PM	#14 (permalink)
SubieOutlaw Fast & Dirty Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4,022 Location: North Shore Car Year: 2009 Car Model: Forester XT Transmission: 4 speed auto Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	WOW. Sorry about the mishap. This reminds me of an off road trip near Calgary. A puddle looked shallow until I started to throw some rocks into it. Then used a stick to measure it. 2 feet deep. As mentioned, remove decal and call the insurance adjuster. Accidents happen while going to the campsite all the time. __________________ My 09 FXT Journal

04-20-2012, 10:45 PM	#15 (permalink)
yallahyimshi Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 638 Location: Austria, near Vienna Car Year: 04 Car Model: Forester XT Rinspeed Transmission: manual 5 speed Gallery: 0 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	an offroad advice i was given in romania from an experienced driver was not to turn of the engine when getting stuck in the water, even if the exhausts are out of it an only the nose is under water... hopefully everything is ok with your ride __________________ Forester XT 2.0L MY04 290HP/420NM (AFP4H) by JGM

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