Airbox issues and low water bridges.

[sugarmommachoppers]

I'm so mad, My 91 [80,000 mile] Festiva has a No. 3 cylinder bent rod. From a encounter with a low water bridge.[5" of water, And yes I hit it real slow] The airbox sucked water from the fender well.[wheel well?] and hydrauliced the piston. So now I'm rebuilding the engine. I live in Arkansas,low water bridges are a fact of life here. So my question is, Can I modify the airbox to suck in the engine comparment and block off the original hole in the fender well? Or is there a better way? I can't go around these bridges forever. I don't race on gravel and drive for mileage and frankly am shocked this happened.I love the car and would never part with it. What should I do? Thanks, Mark D

[FB71]

is the splash shield in place in the right front fender well? I've gone thru water deeper than the door sills without that problem. If the splash shield is missing, I can see water from the wheel splashing up directly into the snorkel.

[sugarmommachoppers]

Thanks

Thanks, Jim. I'll Check it out. Mark D.

[IdealSociety]

if all else fails get some pvc piping/sealant and build yourself a snorkel!

[jglutz]

Something is not right with the air intake prior to or after the air box. I can not imagine that much water passing thru the filter at a rate fast enough to fill the clyinder. Even if water enters at a slow rate....the air fuel mixture would have been bad and the engine would have stalled. Also, even if the box...below the filter would have filled with water...I would think the engine would have stalled for a lack of air flow.

My point....I would check everything associated with the air inlet.

[Levitan]

And when Joe Lutz talks....I listen. I advise you to do the same.

[FB71]

Something is not right with the air intake prior to or after the air box. I can not imagine that much water passing thru the filter at a rate fast enough to fill the clyinder. Even if water enters at a slow rate....the air fuel mixture would have been bad and the engine would have stalled. Also, even if the box...below the filter would have filled with water...I would think the engine would have stalled for a lack of air flow.

My point....I would check everything associated with the air inlet.

actually, we (Ford/Mazda) had a problem with rain water creeping into the inlet/airbox of the second gen Probes (during driving). It doesn't take much water to hydrostatically lock a cylinder. 4 or 5 tablespoons will do it. One good splash... Seen it WAAYYYYY too many times. The filter will saturate with just the humidity in the air, and pass whatever water is ingested into the inlet.

But, I agree, Joe. Check everything associated with the inlet. Which is why I suspected the splash shield missing.

[Damkid]

And when Joe Lutz talks....I listen. I advise you to do the same.

same here, he helped me find out what was wrong when my fuel pump relay died on me

[sugarmommachoppers]

Thanks

It did stall. I got to restart,drove it out of the bridge,and then home[10miles away,what a tuff little engine!!!!!] It sounded like top end clatter.I never knew how bad it was. When I pulled it down,I was shocked. The rod looked horrorable,[it was hitting the block!!!!]But no damage to the piston, crank or cylinder,or head.The block got a little scrape. I'm getting everthing miked and magnafluxed, will know soon. Thanks so much, Mark D

[25Horseplay]

Mark have you considered a new engine? Festiva Motorsport has them in srock for $1695 shipped. Check Ebay theres one on there now.

[jglutz]

Have the piston associated with the rod magna-fluxed also. I hate to see you rebuid the engine and have a wrist pin break free.

[sugarmommachoppers]

Thanks

Joe,To be safe, I am replacing the piston too. Just to be safe. Thanks again, Mark D

[sugarmommachoppers]

Fixed motor

I just got it fixed. $1600[with clutch] ouch!! The splash plate was in place. So ,I'm back to square one. Is there a modification to make the air intake inside the engine compartment? Can the box be turned around? Will a block off and recut of the airbox mess with the FI? Or just turn around on low water bridges? Thank so much for all the help, Mark D

[GenevaDirt]

ouch!!!...1600 dollars...oh my. You could have bought a couple nice Festy's for that or another NEW engine from FMS...but I hope it at least fixed the issues you had.

[sugarmommachoppers]

Help

I got to looking hard at the airbox. It has a snorkel turning into the back of the headlight. The splash guard is behind the snorkel in the fenderwell? Covers a little oval hole in the fenderwell? Well it's there. Shound I try to make a gasket for the splash guard? Should I try to get a new Airbox gasket? It looks good. Thanks again, Mark D