'88 run into the lake and submerged 3hrs: How to repair?

[E95]

'88 Festiva at 203K miles with 4sp was driven into the lake this morning.
Passed the float test for 15 mins. and then totally sunk for the remaining 3hrs. What's the step by step in returning this formerly good running car to the road? Draining all the fluids and squirting Mystery Oil into the cylinders sounded good too. But how do I insure all the water is removed from any areas it could do damage? Any suggestions, etc. including out right laughter is welcomed.

E95

[festivaWES]

lmao!! How did it happen? Give us the details!!

[warlocke]

how the heck did that happen lmao

[muscle_Car1]

Ummm was it running when It hit the water?

If so replace the engine.

[ericsmith32]

Well your going to have to do a few short oil changes, change the tranny fluid a few times and not to mention the brakes. The electronics is the hard part though. All of the relays probably have water in them.. not to mention the ecu itself. I'd starting pulling off of the relays and try to take the covers off and use a hair dryer on them. Also you need to drain the gas tank and dry it out. Probably have to drop to do that. The wheel bearings will need to redone eventually also.. the fronts are sealed shouldn't have much trouble. The lights you need to take the bulbs out and check for water. That's about the only thing that comes to mind.

[GenevaDirt]

I know it's not a car but my brother-in-law has sunk his snowmobile numerous times ( very expensive, new, efi, the works) and he has always been able to get the thing running within a day without to much trouble.
He just can't seem to stop crossing ponds in the summertime. :lol:

[packrat427]

Did anyone by chance get a video of all this :lol:

[lilred]

pull OUT the spark plugs and turn the motor over. Then pick up car turn over shake it out and line dry it do not put it in the dryer or it will shrink

[muscle_Car1]

do not put it in the dryer or it will shrink

:laughing3: :laughing3: :cheers: :laughing3: :laughing3:

[ramichael]

Would have love to seen that, :lol: :lol:

[5.0zone]

It could be a gone'r but it is a Festiva so you can probably bring it back.
Since its an 88 and carbed you won't have an ECU to worry about.
Interior:
Open the doors and put a fan blowing through it for a couple of days.
Got to get the seat and most importantly the under dash area dry.
Engine:
1 Buy a case or two of oil.
2 remove the spark plugs
remove distributor, take off cap set the distributor in front of a fan till completely dry (couple of days)
remove air fillter
3 drain oil
replace oil filter
4 overfill with new oil and let it set for a few mins.
5 drain oil
6 if it looks milky then you still have some water in your engine
7 repeat steps 3 - 6 until oil look like it did when you poured it in
8 fill with oil and turn the engine over with the plugs out
9 drain oil
10 if it looks milky repeat steps 8 - 9 until oil look like it did when you poured it in.
11 replace oil fillter
(remember, a case of oil is a LOT cheaper the replacing the engine)
Transmission:
1 drain
2 fill
3 drive (not to far)
4 repeat 1 - 3 till fuild looks new

[E95]

Well, thanks for ALL your responses and advice in rezing my 88. We've planted two railroad ties and will be able to line dry in when the aircraft cables are delivered.
Here's the basic blow by blow of our Monday morning float test: Different Festiva ignition key jammed into it's ignition worked until the ignitn. lock wore out and couldn't make contact to start the car. Remote switch worked well until the 05:15am engine warmup for work Monday morning. Being sleepy is no excuse as I believed it was out of gear and emerg. brake on....cold engine starting begins with a high idle and WHOOSH!! Knocked out from infront of the car, as it headed towards the lake 30yds or so away. Stumbling and running to get into the cab thinking *clutch, *brake, *not into the lake!! Into the lake it ran.
Yeah, a video would've been interesting and maybe gotten that runnerup cash prize of what $1,000.00; enough to get 'er road ready much faster.
Again, thanks for all your advice in resurecting my excellent daily driver.
I'll keep y'all posted on the results.

E95

[25Horseplay]

Wow! Thats all I can say.

[kirko]

2 remove the spark plugs !!!!!!!!!!

A #1 first thing to do

[tigerpaw]

Looks like you had good advice, I had a 80 Fiesta

that got flooded out and was floating during a hurricane in 04.I replaceed all in the previous posts and everything survived.It filled up 6 inches and I just pulled everything and sun dried it! Good Luck!