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help! BIG puddle + friends = check engine light

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Old Oct 27, 2004 | 10:04 PM
  #1  
A_Fire_InsideR1's Avatar
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From: Sin Diego
help! BIG puddle + friends = check engine light

okay, so it rained today... alot


and there was a big puddle in the road, big meaning a river overflowed, making the stoplight at the intersection flash red and there were cones and whatnot set up to keep cars from driving in it.

however, my friends were with me... so i decided to drive, not through it but far enough into it to make an 8 ft. wall of water on the right side of the truck.

it was sweet.


but as soon as i got out of it, my truck started misfiring (stumbling) a little and so i let up on the gas, the check engine light came on an flashed for about a minute straight, (we were on our way to the mall) so i parked a few minutes later, by then the check engine light was on solid

so i pop the hood, look in and theres water just about everywhere... i'm assuming thats not really a good thing

so anyway i started the truck up after we left, its running fine but the light is still on, could i have damaged anything by doing that? i thought trucks were supposed to be tough and roll through swamps and sand...

anyways, is there anything i should check for damage/corrosion?
 
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Old Oct 27, 2004 | 10:05 PM
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From: Sin Diego
ah, forgot, my truck is a '98 f150, 4.2L v6, stock
 
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Old Oct 27, 2004 | 10:18 PM
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From: White Sands, NM
If the fault condition was only temporary, then the light will remain on untill you complete the requisite number of drive cycles with no fault condition. (I think it's 3). Or you can go to Autozone and get the code read and cleared.
 
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Old Oct 27, 2004 | 10:48 PM
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Wink

The check engine light is on permanatly on my dads excursion and my bros f250 ford told us it was a computer malfunction
 
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Old Oct 27, 2004 | 10:52 PM
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From: North Carolina
Arrow

Originally Posted by wranglrgrl9
The check engine light is on permanatly on my dads excursion and my bros f250 ford told us it was a computer malfunction
What?

I have never heard of a permanent CEL light.

Please explain...

Bryan#50
 
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Old Oct 27, 2004 | 10:55 PM
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Originally Posted by bvoncannon
What?

I have never heard of a permanent CEL light.

Please explain...

Bryan#50
Meaning it never goes off due to a computer malfunction
 
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Old Oct 29, 2004 | 04:01 PM
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From: Sin Diego
ok so i completed 3 drive cycles... the light is still on, will there be any problem driving it??

and question: i read in the owner's manual today that if the differential or trans is submerged in water, the fluids need to be replaced (ghey. just plain ghey.) who thinks a "healthy splash" (the water level was just below axle height) would require the fluids to be changed out?
 
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Old Oct 29, 2004 | 05:46 PM
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oaky go to autozone ,have them pull the codes and write them down, then clear them and see if the same ones return....next check you read diff. by removing the fill plug, and then stick your pinky finger in and see what color it is....if its light grey then change the fluid....you can also use a air hose to dry out the engine, i carry a air tank with a air nozzle when i go 4wheelin in case i get too much water on the engine.....
 
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Old Oct 30, 2004 | 04:42 PM
  #9  
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From: Sin Diego
ok thanks, that air hose is a good idear
 
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Old Nov 1, 2004 | 09:34 AM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by A_Fire_InsideR1
ok so i completed 3 drive cycles... the light is still on, will there be any problem driving it??

and question: i read in the owner's manual today that if the differential or trans is submerged in water, the fluids need to be replaced (ghey. just plain ghey.) who thinks a "healthy splash" (the water level was just below axle height) would require the fluids to be changed out?
Uh, not "just plain ghey" your transmission is made of metal. You know what happens to metal when it gets wet and stays wet? You'll be spending alot more money replacing your transmission than you will buying a couple quarts of gear oil...
And no, when you think it's just below axle height, it's not. you create an 8 ft. wall of water... Well that water was spraying up under the truck too, not just outside.
 
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Old Nov 6, 2004 | 09:49 PM
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ok, what you did is that when you went into the big puddle as you call it, water got all into the plug coils, causung it to misfire. so what your gonna havt to do is remove every plug and unplug the sensore , go to auto zone or wherever and buy this spray that dries the sensors, just ask there, theyll know what it is. and dry out all the sensore , all the ones you can get too, try replacing the plugs too, make sure you clean the coils also, let me know how that goes, laters,,,oh yeah dont go into any big puddles k
 
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Old Nov 6, 2004 | 10:10 PM
  #12  
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From: Honkytonkville
When the engine light is flashing, that means that the ECM is recording a new code right then, when it's solid, a code has been stored. You probably don't need to do all of the stuff that's been listed here to get your engine light off, but it'd be a good idea nonetheless. To turn the light off- just disconnect the negative battery terminal of your battery for a few mins, or if you're worried about losing your radio stations you can go to AutoZone, and they'll clear it(it's free around here)
BTW-
Originally Posted by A_Fire_InsideR1
i thought trucks were supposed to be tough and roll through swamps and sand
You should probably have your license revoked for that statement.....

Scott
PS-Next time, drive around the water, like you should've done in the first place.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2004 | 12:55 AM
  #13  
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From: Sin Diego
aw well thats no fun ....





what did you mean by this? i really was suprised that less than a foot of water gave my truck such a hard time...
Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by A_Fire_InsideR1
i thought trucks were supposed to be tough and roll through swamps and sand
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
You should probably have your license revoked for that statement.....
 
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Old Nov 7, 2004 | 01:50 AM
  #14  
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From: san diego
the only reason i said to do this cuz i did the same thing, not to seem mlike im makn you go thru all the trouble. but i couldnt drive my truck for more than 15mph it was that bad. it was misfire that much, but hey im not trying to step all over anyone, i was just putting in what i though. everyone have a good night
 
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Old Nov 7, 2004 | 09:28 AM
  #15  
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I had to chime in....sorry to be nozy.
Start simple then trouble shoot further. If you got water in the air intake the sensor just passed the filter will register that and turn the light on also. And water going through the intake will make some nasty times. make sure your filter and hosews are clean and dry

Eric
 
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