Engine Soaked & Now Won't Turn Over

[BigWheel]

Hey Guys, my son was coming home last night and just before getting here a water hose ruptured soaking the engine. We got the hose changed but now the engine won't even think about turning over. It acts like a dead battery but the battery voltage is good and all lights work. Engine simply will not turn over. Tonight I'm going to get my air compressor out and try to dry everything off. Is this just a matter of all the electronics getting soaked? Ideas? Thanks

[Aaronbrook37]

Start with the distributor for sure. The cap and rotor really don't like moisture.

[koRnhead]

You sure he didn't drive farther than you think with no coolant?

[FestYboy]

^ make sure the engine turns by hand, then if it does, smack the starter with a hammer while trying to crank. the bendix may be sticking.

[nitrofarm]

Also check the 25A fuse link in the engine bay

[1990new]

Here hoping that water didn't somehow get sucked into the intake and find it's way into the cylinders.
If the engine will not turn by hand, it's a sure sign of big trouble.

[db2u]

Does it click at all under the hood when you turn the key? I second the motion to make sure the engine isn't seized from being severely overheated. Distributor cap and rotor wont affect whether or not it turns over. I would also rinse the coolant off with just plain water, the coolant does not dry as easily in my experience.

[BigWheel]

How do you turn the motor by hand? May seem elementary but not something I've done?

He said it was running fine, temp fine, etc and then blew. He stopped 1/2 mile from house and filled it with coolant he keeps on the car for emergencies and then nursed it home.

[BigWheel]

Oh and there is NO click when turning the key on.

[FestYboy]

replace your main fuse with a PNP fuse rated for 40A (green)
take a 21mm socket and 1/2 ratchet and turn the crank bolt (passenger wheel well)

[gestiva]

I might be able to drop by tomorrow afternoon if u want me to look at it for u?

Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk

[nitrofarm]

^Thats the spirit gestiva! :thumbs_up:

[BigWheel]

I would appreciate the help Gestiva but today (Sat) we are doing the family Christmas party circuit. I may call you tomorrow. I really doubt it's seized as my son is pretty good about watching the temps. I sort of ingrained that in his head time and again after seeing what other kids did to their parents' cars. ;0). If it is I'm glad it's the Festy and not my truck. I could see a nice engine swap coming.

[BigWheel]

BINGO!!! Bottom side of the electrical connector to the starter had antifreeze on it. Dried it off and it immediately fired up.

I had dried every square inch of the engine and checked almost all of the electrical connections including the starter. Just about to give up and I caught a reflection from my flashlight and it was dampness of the bottom of the connector that i obviously missed when air drying everything. Sometimes it's the smallest detail. Thanks for the feedback guys.

[lessersivad]

Glad you got it going.