What Causes a Car to Fail to Engage Gear the Day After Driving Through Water?

[DelFrancisco]

Air filter, engine compartment wiring harness, chassis malfunction. Here are the detailed explanations: 1. Air filter: The air filter serves as the gateway for air entering the engine. After the vehicle has driven through water, inspect the air filter and intake ducts. If they are wet, it indicates that water may have entered the engine, requiring a thorough check for internal water ingress. 2. Engine compartment wiring harness: The engine compartment contains numerous wiring harnesses and circuits. Driving through water can easily wet the connectors of these harnesses. If inspection reveals wet connectors, immediate drying is necessary to prevent potential short circuits. 3. Chassis malfunction: When driving through water, debris can accumulate in the chassis gaps and other areas, leading to rust formation or even component failure. Therefore, after driving through water, the vehicle should be taken to a car wash for a thorough chassis cleaning. Applying an undercoating can also enhance the chassis's rust-proofing capability.