Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!

Embarrassing but need advice

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-08-2009, 05:48 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
T4Revan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Muskego, WI
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 88 Formula, 89 Firebird.
Engine: 355 V8, 2.8L V6
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Embarrassing but need advice

I decided to go on one last fun run before winter 2 weeks ago and well simply put I was speeding quite a bit down a new road, didn't know about the curve, slammed on the brakes and slid into a lake.

She didn't get too far in, as the water was just above the bottom of the doors. Driver's side was deeper than the pass so I don't think I got any water into the air filter. It was running in the water for like 3-5 mins while I panicked and made a phone call for help.

After running some seafoam through the oil and intake she appears to be fine other than the faint hint of white smoke from the tails, but that might just be from the cold. It's idling and shifting properly.

Now I assume I killed the cat and o2. And other than replacing those and changing the oil, trans, and diff fluid is there anything else I should be worrying about?
Old 12-08-2009, 06:02 PM
  #2  
Junior Member
 
bowtieboy42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 89 Camaro
Engine: LB9
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: ?
Re: Embarrassing but need advice

I would mainly just worry about fluids. I had a chevy pickup that I four wheeled all the time. Had that thing underwater more times then a submarine. Never had a problem with the cat (although the O2 sensors were always trashed). If the water was only up to the doors I wouldnt worry about it. Did you ever shut it off while it was in the water?
Old 12-08-2009, 06:04 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
T4Revan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Muskego, WI
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 88 Formula, 89 Firebird.
Engine: 355 V8, 2.8L V6
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Embarrassing but need advice

Yeah, after no more than 5 mins I shut it off and it sat for good half hour waiting for a tow truck.
Old 12-08-2009, 06:06 PM
  #4  
Moderator

iTrader: (14)
 
five7kid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Littleton, CO USA
Posts: 43,169
Likes: 0
Received 35 Likes on 34 Posts
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Why do you think you killed the cat & O2?
Old 12-08-2009, 06:10 PM
  #5  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
T4Revan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Muskego, WI
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 88 Formula, 89 Firebird.
Engine: 355 V8, 2.8L V6
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Embarrassing but need advice

I was told by a friend that the cold water combined with the heat of the cat would just fry it. I'd assume there's no way of telling without taking the exhaust apart?
Old 12-08-2009, 06:14 PM
  #6  
Moderator

iTrader: (14)
 
five7kid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Littleton, CO USA
Posts: 43,169
Likes: 0
Received 35 Likes on 34 Posts
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Stock cat?

Bang on it with your fist. If it doesn't rattle, it's fine.

If it rattles, it was probably bad before this little incident.
Old 12-08-2009, 06:19 PM
  #7  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
T4Revan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Muskego, WI
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 88 Formula, 89 Firebird.
Engine: 355 V8, 2.8L V6
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Embarrassing but need advice

Not stock, it's a 3" Walker Super Converter. But I'll still give the bang test a try.
Old 12-08-2009, 06:25 PM
  #8  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
T4Revan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Muskego, WI
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 88 Formula, 89 Firebird.
Engine: 355 V8, 2.8L V6
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Embarrassing but need advice

Alright, just went and knocked on it a few times, didn't really hear anything, so it should be fine right?
Old 12-08-2009, 08:25 PM
  #9  
Junior Member
 
bowtieboy42's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 89 Camaro
Engine: LB9
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: ?
Re: Embarrassing but need advice

I would imagine its fine. Does it sound the same? Was your tailpipe under water? Since you shut the car off you might have taken water in your exhuast, but even at that I think it'd be alright...
Old 12-08-2009, 08:35 PM
  #10  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
T4Revan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Muskego, WI
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 88 Formula, 89 Firebird.
Engine: 355 V8, 2.8L V6
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Embarrassing but need advice

Tailpipes were half submerged. It did take in some water considering it did spit out quite a bit after starting it. It sounds the same from the back, sounds like I have an exhaust leak around the y-pipe now. I haven't a chance to tighten the headers or y-pipe connection yet to see if that fixes it because of the cold.
Old 12-08-2009, 10:47 PM
  #11  
Supreme Member

 
camaronewbie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Cary, North Carolina
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes on 16 Posts
Car: 1992 RS
Engine: Carbed 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Re: Embarrassing but need advice

This incident has nothing to do with tranny or rear end, I wouldn't bother changing those fluids - especially the trans unless it's had it's fluids changed on a regular basis. Trans fluid collects dirt and metal shavings over the years that act like an additive, providing extra friction. Changing to fresh fluid on a tranny that hasn't had regular fluid changes can sometimes lead to slipping.
Old 12-08-2009, 11:04 PM
  #12  
Banned
iTrader: (12)
 
Stephen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Bertram (outside Austin), TX
Posts: 12,212
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Car: 87 GTA
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Dana M78 3.27 posi
Re: Embarrassing but need advice

You didn't get in deep enough to hurt anything. I wouldn't do anything but drive it....

I had my lifted Jeep sunk in the middle of a river, up to the tops of the fenders, just below the hood. I was able to climb out the window, walk across the hood & catch the rope a buddy threw.

He pulled me out, I fired up the engine (i had shut it off before the water was high enough to get sucked in) and drove around the rest of the day, the 2 hr trip home, then for at least another year. Never changed a single fluid because of that, just changed my oil at the regular times.

This is how I drained the water from the inside....

Last edited by Stephen; 12-08-2009 at 11:15 PM.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
HoosierinWA
Tech / General Engine
5
10-07-2015 10:15 AM
jaridjohn
Exhaust
14
10-05-2015 07:01 AM
gord327
Transmissions and Drivetrain
13
09-29-2015 10:18 PM
IROC ZELLER
Engine Swap
6
09-29-2015 03:00 PM
mrdevontay
Body
0
09-02-2015 08:04 PM



Quick Reply: Embarrassing but need advice



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:48 PM.