What Causes Engine Shaking When Driving Through Water Without Stalling?
2 Answers
Driving through water without stalling proves that the car's engine did not take in water. The shaking is likely caused by water entering the exhaust pipe, affecting the exhaust. If you're unsure, you can check whether the air filter has taken in water. If the air filter is dry, it indicates no water intake, and you can continue using the vehicle with confidence. If the filter is wet, simply replace it. The correct method for driving through water: 1. Slow down or stop to observe: When encountering standing water while driving, if the water level exceeds two-thirds of the bumper or tire height, there is a certain risk in proceeding. Additionally, driving too fast through water can cause splashes to enter the cabin through the engine compartment or chassis. Assess the water level—if it's high, try to detour and avoid forcing your way through. 2. Do not stop or shift gears: When driving through water, maintain a steady speed in low gear with moderate to high throttle. Drive at a low speed and avoid stopping, shifting gears, or releasing the throttle. 3. Do not restart the engine: If the car stalls in water, take measures to tow it to a safe location with less water as soon as possible. Never restart the engine to avoid damaging it. 4. Remove brake pad moisture promptly: This prevents the vehicle from losing braking ability after driving through water, which could lead to danger or accidents.
Last time my car had a similar issue after going through water, and after checking for a long time, it turned out the ignition coil had slight water ingress. Water splashing into the engine bay can easily seep into the spark plug sockets, causing a short circuit in the high-voltage electricity. At that time, my car was shaking like a massage chair, especially noticeable at low speeds. This kind of problem is most feared when it recurs because a damp environment can cause metal parts to rust. Later, I pulled out the spark plugs to dry them and used compressed air to blow out the high-voltage wire connectors to fix it. I suggest you check the wiring harness under the hood for any water stains as soon as possible, especially around the distributor. Also, if the air filter box gets water inside, it can cause unstable air intake, which can also lead to shaking.
