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?

 

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?

 

Yeah, after no more than 5 mins I shut it off and it sat for good half hour waiting for a tow truck.

 

Why do you think you killed the cat & O2?

 

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?

 

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.

 

Not stock, it's a 3" Walker Super Converter. But I'll still give the bang test a try.

 

Alright, just went and knocked on it a few times, didn't really hear anything, so it should be fine right?

 

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...

 

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.

 

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.

 

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....