So you all know CAMERAS but what about CARS???

Rick Meyer

Rick Meyer

Veteran
Okay-

Here's the deal. My girlfriend and I went out last night to pick up dinner and a movie. It was raining. The rain wasn't coming down very hard but in one area we drove through there was a pretty substantial flooding on the street. I figured I would barrel through it (its a VW NEW BEETLE, if that helps) rather than go slowly and risk stalling out...well, we go through it fine but the performance of the car significantly dropped. Like there was water in there somewhere.

When I hit the gas, there is go, just not a lot of get-up. Then it'll pick up the right speed. So, we got home last night fine but I am wondering what to do next. What kind of damage might there be and by GOD please don't tell me its permanent? She just got the car. I'd feel horrible.

For all I know, its dried out and all is well. But, before I turn the key in the ignition I want to make sure that I lift the hood to do any sort of prevent defense I can...providing someone gives me advice as to what to prevent....

Thanks all!
Rick
 
Are you sure there was actually any difference in the performance of the car, or that you weren't just driving differently after going through the water?
 
I'm no expert but...

The spark plugs are probably damp. That would be a simple matter of removing them and cleaning/drying them out, or they may sort themselves out with a bit more driving.

Also check the air-filter to make sure it's not wet/damp. That could mean water in the carburettor... not good. Call a friendly mechanic and ask what he thinks if that's the case

It may resolve itself if it is parked up someplace it can dry out.

One danger of driving through flood water is your brakes. It can temporarily make them useless. For your girlfriends safety, make sure you're happy with them. It's one thing not being able to go... it's another not being able to stop!

Like I say... I'm no expert, but maybe that's pointed you in vaguely the right direction?

Drive safely!:)
 
Thanks man. We drove for another 15-20 minutes running errands, picking up Chinese food and renting movies (by the way, Catch and Release SUCKED) so the brakes dried out and felt fine but the car still felt a little 'off'.
 
I'd go with water in the plugs - had a friend who wash his engine at the car wash with the giant pressure wand and got his plugs a tad wet. Car wouldnt even start. Plugs are cheap so we just took his out and replaced them for the heck of it, liberally drying out all the plug wire caps and pretty much everything else. Ran much better after that. Also had a set of plug wires that demanded to be placed in just the right place or the engine ran sluggish and rough. Dont buy cheap plug wires...
 
I'll guarantee it isn't the spark plugs. I was a mechanic for 4 years. More than likely, you got a bit of water into one of the sensors. I'm not familiar with Bosch fuel injection systems (which is what most German cars use - I'm assuming the VW does as well), but it could be something like the MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure) sensor. If there's some sort of airflow sensor, it could have possibly knocked that out of calibration. Take it to the dealer or a good mechanic and let them run a diagnostic. Is there a "Check Engine" light that's come on since the incident?
 
Spark plugs have nothing to do with it. More than likely it's the air filter that got wet, and isn't allowing the engine to breathe properly. To check that, just pop the air filter out and see if it's wet - AT ALL! If it is, then just sit it out until it's 100% dry.

Otherwise there are some sensors in and around the engine that could've shorted out, but more than likely, the Check Engine light would've come on.
 
How deep was the water and one more thing, nothing is cheap on the NEW Beetle. Wait until your headlight bulb burns out, be prepared to pay an hour labor just to change the bulb.

Tommy is probably right but if somehow the water got sucked back into your tail pipe i would consider having the catalytic converter checked for partial plugged.
 
tommyinla said:
I'll guarantee it isn't the spark plugs. I was a mechanic for 4 years. More than likely, you got a bit of water into one of the sensors. I'm not familiar with Bosch fuel injection systems (which is what most German cars use - I'm assuming the VW does as well), but it could be something like the MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure) sensor. If there's some sort of airflow sensor, it could have possibly knocked that out of calibration. Take it to the dealer or a good mechanic and let them run a diagnostic. Is there a "Check Engine" light that's come on since the incident?
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Agreed. I doubt it's spark plug. I thought the knew Beetles' plugs were covered?

Has anything extra been done to the car or is it stock?

I know when I had my ricey Honda Civic, I ran through a puddle on the highway and my engine drank water via the super long Intake, causing the vehicle to choke and damned near blow a hole in the oil pan.

MAYBE you were losing traction as you went through the puddle? You wouldn't feel it if the puddle's deep enough, you'd just feel like you weren't going as fast as it felt.
 
tommyinla said:
They're almost certainly Bosch double platinums.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah me knows. German - Bosch, Japanese - NGK

I was saying that I thought the spark plug holes had a plate over them in the first place on that vehicle. I think anyway.

Number one problem: Wet Air Filter
Number Two Problem: Wasn't getting traction that he's used to.
 
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