Why does the car shake when stepping on the accelerator after water enters the front?
2 Answers
Shaking when stepping on the accelerator after water enters the front of the car may be due to driving through excessively deep water. Specific causes of shaking: When water enters the car, a small amount of water may get into the high-voltage wires, and the engine air filter element may become wet. This increases intake resistance and allows water to enter the combustion chamber, leading to poor ignition system performance. In severe cases, the spark plugs may fail to ignite, and the car might even stall. Solutions when driving through water: When driving through water, shift to 1st or 2nd gear in advance and maintain high throttle to pass through the water. If the water submerges the exhaust pipe, the power will drop significantly. If accelerating doesn't help, keep the throttle high to pass through the water without shifting gears midway. After passing through the water, stop the car and shift to neutral. Rev the engine a few times to expel water from the exhaust pipe. Before driving again, press the brakes several times, and only continue driving once the brakes function normally.
I also encountered a similar situation before. After water entered the front of the car, it started shaking as soon as I stepped on the gas, which gave me a scare. It was probably because water got into the ignition system, like the spark plugs or ignition coils getting wet, causing poor cylinder ignition and resulting in unbalanced engine vibration. Alternatively, it might have been due to sensors short-circuiting after getting wet, sending erratic data and making the electronic control system go haywire. I immediately stopped to check the engine compartment and found that some wire connectors were a bit wet. After drying them, the situation improved slightly. It's best not to force the car to run under such conditions, or you might end up with damaged spark plugs or even worse, a ruined engine. During the rainy season, avoid driving through deep water. Raising the air filter can help prevent some water ingress. If you can't handle it yourself, get it to a repair shop quickly. Safety first! Delaying repairs for such issues can be expensive and dangerous in the long run.
