How long can a car be reignited after stalling in water?
2 Answers
After a car stalls in water, it should not be reignited, otherwise the engine will be damaged. Precautions for driving through water: After a car stalls in water, it should not be reignited. Reigniting usually will not succeed and will only cause further damage. In any case, after a car stalls in water, water will enter the engine through the exhaust pipe. Even if the car is successfully reignited, the water that has entered the engine will cause serious damage to the engine. If the car is not reignited, the subsequent treatment only requires removing the water, without the need to replace parts. Reasons for a car stalling in water: First, the high-voltage distribution system is wet or short-circuited due to water ingress, causing the car to stall. This situation is relatively common. The water may look shallow, and the car may seem able to pass, but it stalls, usually due to splashing water. Second, the exhaust pipe is flooded. The exhaust pipe of a car is relatively low. Generally, if the water level rises above the exhaust pipe, the car will stall due to the inability to exhaust.
Never rush to restart the engine after stalling in water. As someone who has experienced this scenario multiple times, I once impulsively pressed the ignition button, only to flood the engine and spend thousands on repairs. If water has submerged the exhaust pipe or chassis, attempting to start the engine can suck water into the cylinders, leading not only to hydro-lock but also potentially causing short circuits and fires. My advice is to stay calm, push the car to a safe spot, and ideally wait two or three days for the components to dry naturally. Check if the air filter is soaked—if it is, replace it immediately to avoid costlier repairs. Stalling in water is a serious issue; don’t try to save time or money. It’s safer to call a tow truck and have the car thoroughly inspected at a repair shop.
