86 944 went through some semi-deep water. Wont start, help would be much appreciated

jindogeh · 02-23-2009, 01:47 AM

Hey everyone, it was raining pretty bad and I went through a semi deep puddle. It was in a parking lot and I drove a little bit in 1st and maybe a little 2nd gear. I parked up and went about my business. When I came back maybe 30 min later, I tried starting her and she wouldn't start. I don't know whats going on, help would be much appreciated. Thanks

Jamie '92 968 · 02-23-2009, 02:54 AM

Jindogeh,
Years ago I used to have an 85 1/2 944 and had 2 water incidents that might be of interest to you.
In one case, a storm drain clogged in a parking lot where I was parked and the car got wet. I don't know exactly how high it got, but the car wouldn't start afterwards.
Turned out that the alarm computer had shorted out and was preventing the car from starting.

In the second incident, I drove through some semi-deep water and then the car stalled about a mile later. It would not start for about a half hour, but then started up. The interesting thing is that the car then had a slight vibration at hight RPMs that wasn't there before. A few days later, my balance shaft belt went, taking out my timing belt, and bent a bunch of valves. Not sure if this was a fluke, but you may want to be on the lookout for it.
Good luck!

Jerome Ryals · 02-23-2009, 04:44 AM

Had a similar incident here last spring. I ended up pulling my starter and at least a cup of water ran out of it. Hope this helps, good luck. J R

Tishabet · 02-23-2009, 04:52 AM

When you turn the key, does the engine spin but not catch i.e. it cranks but does not start?

It's possible that you got the belts wet and some water got flung up in the distributor area, especially if the dust cap is missing or damaged. If that's the case pulling the cap (easy to do with just a philips screwdriver) and drying the area might do the trick.

944 Ecology · 02-23-2009, 05:48 AM

Check your compression. If low, you may have suffered the dreaded hydrolock.

Don't drive your 944 in water over six inches deep... it will cost you, maybe a starter, maybe an engine... it is not a boat.

sl66ICEcuba · 02-23-2009, 05:54 AM

Just curious... how deep was this water?

Jeff Laurence · 02-23-2009, 06:31 AM

Could also be water ran from the battery compartment , down the wires and into the DME-- this happened to me .

ideola · ideola's Garage

Could also be that the reference sensor got wet. I had an 87 924S with essentially the same motor, every time my son would wash the car, it wouldn't start for like 30 minutes or so until. We isolated it to the reference sensor being wet. If the reference sensor is having trouble communicating with the DME, no fuel, no spark. This can also occur in cold weather where condensation builds up on the sensor and then freezes in the cold.

jindogeh · 02-23-2009, 07:32 AM

Hey everyone, yea so i just got back from my car to pick some stuff up and first of all thanks for the advice. I tried starting it and it started. I let it run for a bit and then tested it to about 2000 rpm in neutral and I may be just paranoid or something(it is still pretty cold weather wise here) but I think it felt a little rougher in vibration than i'm used to feeling. Are my worries warranted?

and I think the puddle at its deepest point maybe 1ft deep. It was in a parking lot with a deep dip and I didn't see it....pretty weak.

and how would I go about draining the water if there is water in the distributor cap area?(or any other area for that matter haha)

jindogeh · 02-23-2009, 07:34 AM

Oh and how would i check the compression? and what would i be looking for when i find it? sorry I am relatively new to owning and maintaining this car haha

SuperXRAY · 02-23-2009, 07:34 AM

Your timing and balance belts definitely got wet. I wouldn't drive the car until they are checked/replaced. As mentioned by Jamie '92 968:

Quote:

In the second incident, I drove through some semi-deep water and then the car stalled about a mile later. It would not start for about a half hour, but then started up. The interesting thing is that the car then had a slight vibration at hight RPMs that wasn't there before. A few days later, my balance shaft belt went, taking out my timing belt, and bent a bunch of valves. Not sure if this was a fluke, but you may want to be on the lookout for it.

jindogeh · 02-23-2009, 07:45 AM

So its probably a given I have to replace the belts? probably get tow truck to where i can do that yea? and would that be the end of my worries, or are there more things i should look for before driving the car?

bearone2 · 02-23-2009, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jindogeh

Hey everyone, yea so i just got back from my car to pick some stuff up and first of all thanks for the advice. I tried starting it and it started. I let it run for a bit and then tested it to about 2000 rpm in neutral and I may be just paranoid or something(it is still pretty cold weather wise here) but I think it felt a little rougher in vibration than i'm used to feeling. Are my worries warranted?

and I think the puddle at its deepest point maybe 1ft deep. It was in a parking lot with a deep dip and I didn't see it....pretty weak.

and how would I go about draining the water if there is water in the distributor cap area?(or any other area for that matter haha)

1 foot of water is barely to the bottom of the engine.
if throttle response is good, idling/driving it will dry it out.

Jeff Laurence · 02-23-2009, 07:52 AM

I would check the belts, the cost of not doing it is too high.

SuperXRAY · 02-23-2009, 08:06 AM

Really? 1ft. of water here goes well over the bottom of the engine in our 944. Not to mention that even with the debris shield that is still on our 944, the water would enter the front of the nose, through the radiator, and be splashed all over the engine compartment.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Water splashed on the engine compartment isnt that big a deal. Hello ever driven a car in the rain?

The issue is when its deep enough that the snorkle on the airbox sucks water in, or when its deep enough to submerge the starter....

SuperXRAY · 02-23-2009, 12:59 PM

porsche4life...yeah, I understand. Yes, I've driven cars in the rain...no, it isn't the same as driving through 1ft of water. The whole point of the timing covers are to keep debris from entering that area. They really do a piss-poor job, so my point was water can easily enter there. Some people think getting the timing/balance belts wet is just fine, others don't. It's obvious people want to argue about it, so I'll just bow out and leave it be.

callmethewander · callmethewander's Garage

^ yeah well, It's always better to err on the side of caution anyway isn't it. Water is not supposed to be in there, and belts are a lot cheaper than valves and a head job. it's at least well worth a look, open the air filter housing also and pull the filter out, see what that all looks like.

John_AZ · 02-23-2009, 03:24 PM

There may be some that have not seen this TSB on removing the smorkle. In AZ it is the monsoon that swells the low lying road dips. You can inprovise the "cap" with chair or walking stick rubber cups.

Glad you got lucky.

GL
John_AZ
1988 924S + 1987 924S