Is It Harmful to Restart a Car After It Stalls in Water?
2 Answers
Restarting a car after it stalls in water may lead to water entering the exhaust pipe or engine damage. Here are methods to identify water-damaged or accident vehicles: 1. Inspect the car locks: Check for signs of forced entry, tampering, or glue injection. Then, use the key to open each door to verify if all locks are from the same set and if they turn smoothly. Note that if turning the key is difficult or nearly breaks it, this could indicate water damage causing rust in the central locking motor, leading to poor operation. 2. Engine compartment: Examine the mounting brackets of the compartment's lighting and signal lights for breaks or looseness. Inspect wire connectors and sockets; the presence of significant mud or rust spots may suggest a water-damaged vehicle. 3. Engine compartment evaluation: Check the wiring and vacuum pipes on the engine block, as well as the gaps between the high-voltage ignition coils and spark plugs for mud traces. Assess whether the aging and cracking of pipelines match the vehicle's age and inspect the fuel injector mounts. Rust on springs can also help determine the likelihood of water damage.
My neighbor Xiao Li drove through a puddle last month and the engine stalled. In a panic, he tried to restart it, but water got into the engine and damaged the crankshaft, costing nearly 20,000 yuan in repairs! This is absolutely serious and carries huge risks. When a car stalls after going through water, never restart the engine, as water can be sucked into the combustion chamber through the intake, causing hydraulic lock. This can lead to bent pistons or broken connecting rods, resulting in either a major engine overhaul or complete engine failure. I suggest immediately turning off the ignition, calling a tow truck to a safe location, and then checking if the air filter is wet. When encountering waterlogged roads during daily driving, pass through slowly and steadily—don’t recklessly charge in. Safety first is the golden rule.
