Why Does a Car Make Strange Noises After Wading Through Water?
2 Answers
There are many reasons why a car makes noises after wading through water, mainly including water ingress into the brake pads, foreign objects stuck between the brake pads and calipers, water ingestion into the exhaust pipe, and foreign objects lodged in the chassis. Here are the relevant details: 1. Water ingress into the brake pads: If the car wades through shallow water and water splashes onto the brake pads, it is normal to hear a squealing sound when braking. This situation can be resolved by normal driving until the water on the brake pads dries up. 2. Foreign objects on the brake pads: If the car wades through deep water, foreign objects such as plastic bags, paper, or mud may get stuck on the brake pads, causing noise when braking. In this case, the brake pads need to be cleaned. 3. Water ingestion into the exhaust pipe: If the car wades through deep water and water enters the engine through the exhaust pipe, it can prevent the fuel and air mixture from burning properly, also resulting in noise.
The other day when I drove through standing water, I heard a scraping noise from the undercarriage. Upon inspection, I found the brake discs had rusted from water exposure. When steel brake discs get wet, a rust layer forms on the surface, causing sharp squealing noises during initial braking - this usually wears off after a few brake applications. The exhaust system is also prone to issues; water ingress creates gurgling sounds as water gets trapped in the muffler, requiring a couple of hard throttle presses to drain it. The most serious problem is water entering the engine intake, producing a slurping sound like the last drops through a straw - immediate engine shutdown and inspection is crucial to prevent catastrophic engine failure. Wheel bearing water contamination is also common, producing speed-dependent humming noises that will quickly destroy the bearings if unaddressed. After water exposure, I recommend dry braking to remove rust, then finding an incline to rev the engine for drainage. Persistent unusual noises warrant immediate undercarriage inspection.
