Stalled out in too much water -- loss of power and surging at idle

[roadkyll]

iv never owned an auto festy so i cant help you there. someone is sure to chime in tho

[tooldude]

I would say go with roadkyll on this and just change your transmission fluid. The seals on a transmission are designed to keep liquid inside the transmission not keep liquid on the outside from coming in. Getting into water like that, it is very possible that has happened. Maybe it needs changing anyway? Be safe. I believe the transmission seals are spring loaded around the lips but wheel bearing seals are not. I find it hard to NOT believe water is in your bearings myself -hate to say it, maybe all 4 wheels. I think that new humming is a pretty good indication of that because that is a symptom of lack of proper lubrication. I have had that happen. OK back to the beginning-water caused your problem and I have tried to think of everywhere that water may have gone (as far as engine performance). I was thinking in terms of water conducting voltage where it shouldn't (distributor or sensors) and your engine not running well or missing out. Now that you say it runs pretty well, that's not extremely well, is it actually smooth or slightly missing out reflecting a slight mechanical damage? I'm thinking there is some power loss through the entire power band. Are you revving the engine higher than normal to get up to speed? That's back to a compression/leakdown test and manifold vacuum check. If your timing belt was loose enough, it could have slipped a notch with that water lubricating it and there goes power. Check that the pulley marks are lining up under the timing belt covers. If not, more slipping or belt breakage and goodbye engine. Was that air filter intact when you replaced it - in other words so that there is no obstruction in the ducting to the throttle body choking off air? Have you checked for trouble codes? The engine could be running in open loop. By the way, I measured 18" on my car and it was a little below the top of the tire - 24" was a little above the bottom of the fender well and your were removing water from the air cleaner box. You may have been even deeper plus pushing into the water causing a rising wave. We can't guess the limits, you need some testing.

[denguy]

Mine would die while driving in heavy rain and following a car ahead too closely. I don't really like WD40 but a spray on the wires and disty from the can I had with me got me going again like magic. Should have had an umbrella too.

[leapin]

Theoretically the bearing seals should keep the grease in and the water out, but in the real world and Winnipeg rust that doesn't always happen. I also agree with changing fluids and checking all the electrical connections. Doesn't take much water to interrupt/block a signal. Check the inside of the VAF to make sure the little swing door is moving freely. Water
laden with dirt can jam it up.

[jason_]

Every year I pull all harnesses, hose down with RD90 (equivalent to wd40) and never had a problem.

That spring, drove through a puddle so deep, had 4 inches water on floor and clutch would shimmy from a wet disc.

Zero problems with trans/wheel bearings/ecu/head/block/dist.

Naturally any high voltage connector /wire is going be more sensitive then a 5v/12v hookup.

Unless you gobbled up water to the point she hydro locked, I wouldn't worry about the intake. Friend drove an escort through a puddle, had to pull spark plugs and crank starter, to see 20ft streams of water shoot out the head. Spun in the old plugs, same wires, odb2 was happy and hit on all 4...

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[F3BZ]

this ain't you is it? just kiddin but this guy feels your pain.

[jason_]

I'd tackle high voltage connections first.

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[Amos]

That's pretty much exactly what it was like lol

I'm gonna try changing the fluids and a bunch of the high voltage stuff today, hopefully it'll be running the same as it was before!

[tooldude]

So are you running yet and if so, what was the problem?

[Prafeston]

Haha awesome! Looks like it had a huge CB antenna on the roof!

[Racks-on-racks]

Took my old Toyota truck muddin once and the intake took in prolly 5 gallons of water lol locked up
Got pulled out pulled the distributed cap wd40 threw my air filter and drove to Walmart took off the oil plug and filter over a drain lol and walked in got oil, filter, and air filter and put the thing back together drove it home 65 miles hahah ran like a champ

[DrMaxwellEdison]

Gotta Love those old Yota Trucks....

[Movin]

Pull the dust cap off the rear wheel bearing hub. The grease in there should not be milky and no water should run out. If it does look milky or has water the bearings need repacked.

Remove the big axle nut in the front, push the shaft back and see if water runs out the back side or if the grease looks milky. If all looks well put a little grease back in where you can and put it back together.

Pull the dip stick on the auto trans and look at the oil. If milky or water drops change it, if not run it!