What to Do If the Car Won't Start the Day After Driving Through Water?
3 Answers
If your car didn't stall after driving through water but won't start normally the next day, it's recommended to take it to a professional repair shop for inspection. Here are possible causes: 1. Battery Discharge: A weak battery directly leads to difficulty starting or failure to start. Common issues include poor contact at the battery terminals or problems with the battery management system. 2. Ignition System: After ruling out battery issues, the next step is to check the car's 'ignition system,' which is crucial for starting. Faulty ignition coils or spark plugs can also prevent the car from starting.
Seeing the car fail to start the day after driving through water reminded me of my last lesson. I guessed water had entered critical parts, like the spark plugs getting wet and short-circuiting or the air filter getting clogged. Don’t rush to repeatedly start the engine, as this could worsen the damage. I checked myself: popped the hood and sure enough, the air filter was soaked—I quickly took it out to dry. Then, I wiped any water around the spark plugs with a towel and waited half an hour for it to air-dry before trying again, but it still wouldn’t start. Later, I noticed water stains on the battery terminals, but even after cleaning them, there was no response, so I wisely called a tow truck. After repairs, I learned the fuel pump had taken in water—that was the root cause. The key is to stay calm; after driving through water, don’t rush to start the car—letting it air-dry naturally is best.
As a new driver, I panicked when encountering this situation. The car wouldn't start the day after driving through deep water. My first instinct was to check the battery—looking for loose or corroded terminals, which seemed fine. Then I opened the air filter box and found it slightly damp, but cleaning it didn't help. I had to ask a friend for advice, who suggested stopping any further attempts to start the engine immediately and calling for roadside assistance instead. The tow truck took the car to a repair shop, where the technician diagnosed a short circuit in the ignition system due to water ingress. Now I've learned that after driving through water, it's crucial not to act rashly. After checking simple components, it's best to seek professional help to avoid causing more damage. After the repair, it was recommended to install a waterproof kit to prevent similar issues in the future.
