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phychotron
07-23-2020, 12:07 AM
A few months ago I was driving my 85 LE to my forest property and the water was a bit deeper across the flooded road that normal and when I was going for it my engine shut off and I was in about a foot and a half of water. Got towed out, checked the oil, no water in it, the air filter was soaked but there didn't look like there was more than a few drops of water in the air hose to the throttle body. I dried it out and tried to crank on it, it eventually started but the idle is way low and I needed to hold the gas up a bit. So i checked the oil again and there was coffee for oil. I quickly drained it and put new oil in it with seafoam, ran it for a bit, drained it and it looked completely fine. I put fresh oil in it.

Now I have a very low idle. I have to hold the gas slightly in order to come to a full stop and keep the engine going type stuff. If its warm it will stay idle about 500 before it slowly dies after about 20 seconds. Engine was giving Oxygen sensor code from time to time so I eventually replaced it with a Denso sensor and the van ran a bit different at first, a little harder to start the first time, but slightly better performance on the engine once was up for about a minute. The problem is still there.The error code still comes on from time to time despite clearing the computer by disconnecting the battery for awhile.

If I want to go anywhere I need to warm the van up a bit, maybe a minute or two at 2000rpm's to get it from stalling when shifting. Then I have to baby the throttle to about 1100rpm's or less when I shift. Which is going to take its toll on my transmission eventually cause sometimes its not exactly perfect and I've had a jolt or two.

Other than that the van seems to perform almost the same when at normal speeds. Maybe a bit under powered at times but its hard to tell cause I have an 89 that I just picked up and have been driving around and it's got a lot more pep to it.

What could be causing this issue? Someone told me later I should have pulled the plugs to crank on it cause it might bend something... but what? I cannot remember. I'd like to avoid ripping apart the engine until the last resort though.

Thanks.


10438

originalkwyjibo
07-23-2020, 04:11 AM
I know that bridge! I was just there on Father's Day.
I did the same thing to one of my vans when I misjudged the depth of a flooded street in downtown Tacoma several years ago. Unfortunately, the air inlet is mounted quite low behind the left side of the front bumper. If you hydro-locked the engine, worst case, it's possible you bent a connecting rod. Did it hesitate to turn over or make any funny sounds when you first tried to start it? Are there any other codes? Your idle symptoms sound very characteristic of a vacuum leak which could also cause an O2 sensor code. Check all your vacuum connections and your PCV valve as well. If you sucked any sludge in there it may be sticking which can cause a vacuum leak. Maybe a compromised intake gasket? Also check all your spark plugs noting any differences in condition on a particular cylinder.

originalkwyjibo
07-23-2020, 04:13 AM
And yes, you should have pulled the plugs and cranked it to pump any water out of the cylinders through the spark plug holes.

Diy2k
07-23-2020, 01:22 PM
Check the Rotor and cap as well. Sometimes water seeps in from a drain hole below and causes the engine to act up.

phychotron
07-24-2020, 12:42 AM
Thanks, I'll check for leaks and pcv clogs. Funny we didn't cross paths, that picture was taken on father's day or the day after. Lol

It took a little bit of cranking, I had to give it a bit of throttle to get it started and revved up for a bit and it was running poorly but no strange noises. It ran how I described after I got the oil changed.


I checked the distributor before I cranked it as per the neighbors advice. Side story about my 77 Chinook, 20r. Just got it and left the hood open one rainy day... Drove it a few miles and stopped at the store on my way out of town. Started it up and it ran like a dog... Limped it to the state park 2 miles away and couldn't start it again..towed it home and my uncle, a Toyota guy was standing next to it and told me to crank it... 3 seconds into cranking BOOOOM... Loudest cannon you'll ever hear in your life. My muffler blew up... Cap was wet inside.. I never left the hood up in the rain again.

originalkwyjibo
07-25-2020, 01:46 AM
3 seconds into cranking BOOOOM...
When I was a teenager, I was wearing shorts(As I always am)standing next to a car near the muffler when this happened. Singed the hair off of my ankles.