Deep Water Diagnosis Help Please
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Abington (near Philly) PA
Deep Water Diagnosis Help Please
So I visited a friend last night, and when I woke up most of the island he was on was flooded with about a foot to 18" of water. I made it out with only wading through a couple of patches like that, and the car ran great the whole way home (hour plus).
About five minutes from home, a problem. While running, the car began having an audible fast ticking coming from (when I was in the driver's seat) the area under my glovebox. At the same time I noticed my radio and my dash gauges flashing at the same rate/tempo as the ticking. Finally, pulling up behind someone else I noticed that my parking lights were also flashing high and low at that same ticking rate. Putting on my turn signals or hazards slowed the rate of the tick/flash, but didn't stop it.
Anyone got some thoughts on diagnosing this? I mean, obviously it's water that got into where it doesn't need to be, but what kind of things can I try to narrow down the damaged component? Or, might it stop on it's own when completely dry?
Thanks for anyone that can offer enlightenment.
About five minutes from home, a problem. While running, the car began having an audible fast ticking coming from (when I was in the driver's seat) the area under my glovebox. At the same time I noticed my radio and my dash gauges flashing at the same rate/tempo as the ticking. Finally, pulling up behind someone else I noticed that my parking lights were also flashing high and low at that same ticking rate. Putting on my turn signals or hazards slowed the rate of the tick/flash, but didn't stop it.
Anyone got some thoughts on diagnosing this? I mean, obviously it's water that got into where it doesn't need to be, but what kind of things can I try to narrow down the damaged component? Or, might it stop on it's own when completely dry?
Thanks for anyone that can offer enlightenment.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 388
Likes: 6
I had problems like that when my blocked AC drain caused the BCM to get wet. You'll find it under the pasenger floor Kick-up panel. I disconnected the battery and gave it a good blast with a hair dryer and left it for a day. Re connected the battery...all was well.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 4
From: Slidell La
Ok,, from Katrina my neighbor's 98 C5 had about the same amount of water. Previous post of under floor is right on. Look under pass. floor for computer and clean it all out, replace computer if necessary. The seat is another issue. You probably have water in the switches which is causing eratic operation. I had a similar problem on my 99 C5 when heavy rain water wet my seat switched. Mine dried out after a day or so. But you could remove the seat or leave the door open so the sun can heat it up and dry it out. See the post on grounding. Poor ground can also cause funky stuff. Good luck. 99 Nassau Blue
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Abington (near Philly) PA
On the update...
I let the car dry out for about a week. When I turned it back on, seemed to be great. But then it happened - about forty miles from home, the same kind of electrical seizure activity as before with the ticking, the displays flashing, etc. The hazard lights being turned on slowed the flashing down to the rate of the normal hazards.
I've noticed some things - like, sometimes the R turn signal indicator just stays on all the time. Sometimes when I push the turn signal to the R I get fast flashing of the signal... sometimes I get one or two flashes and then it just stays on... sometimes I get no response at all. Sometimes the flickering seizure activity has a cause - like one night when shutting the headlights off was enough to start it, but flipping them up again stopped it entirely.
So, anyone got some diagnosis hints?
I let the car dry out for about a week. When I turned it back on, seemed to be great. But then it happened - about forty miles from home, the same kind of electrical seizure activity as before with the ticking, the displays flashing, etc. The hazard lights being turned on slowed the flashing down to the rate of the normal hazards.
I've noticed some things - like, sometimes the R turn signal indicator just stays on all the time. Sometimes when I push the turn signal to the R I get fast flashing of the signal... sometimes I get one or two flashes and then it just stays on... sometimes I get no response at all. Sometimes the flickering seizure activity has a cause - like one night when shutting the headlights off was enough to start it, but flipping them up again stopped it entirely.
So, anyone got some diagnosis hints?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,521
Likes: 146
From: Watertown CT
You shoul have listened to the above posts and pulled the computer or atleast dried it with the hairdryer right away. Letting water sit in electronics causes corrosion and just sitting there I'm sure didn't let it dry out properly. More than likely there was water left in there, either from the movement of the car or the heat of the computer causing the water to try and evaporate caused a very "humid evironment" within the computer led to the problem again. I would follow the first advice given and pull the computer, dry it with a hairdryer as that not only puts hot air on it to to dry it out quicker but circulates the air. I would actually try to take the computer apart ot look at the boards within to see if there is any corrosion. Atleast start with hairdrying it really really good, you still might have more problems down the road if corrosion has set in. Good luck! Dan
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 739
From: panama city beach florida USA
St. Jude Donor '09
you drove through 18 in. of water. lets err on the low side and say 12 in. of water ? you must have army exper. cuz ya were part of the lsd trials that said get a deep water fording kit from a jeep
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Abington (near Philly) PA
Sorry, I should have clarified - I did use the hair dryer the first day on everything I could reach with it.
And as for the deep water fording - it was get home or lose my job, so it seemed important.
And as for the deep water fording - it was get home or lose my job, so it seemed important.
Pro
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 693
Likes: 0
From: Merrick NY
Check the battery to see if it's cracked or leaking. I had electrical problems, had it towed to Vette Doctors only for Carmen to find out it was a bad battery .. it was literally cracked and leaked all the acid out 
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
It would seem to me if the water was deep enough to wet the BCM, then the PCM and TAC module likely got wet as well. They are behind the panel behind the passengers front tire. If you turn the wheel or jack it up and remove the wheel you will see the panel. Make sure it seals well when you re-install.
I would also check out Bill Curlee's ground thread which is a "sticky" and go over all the grounds just to make sure you have good contact and nothing is corroded.
Good luck.
I would also check out Bill Curlee's ground thread which is a "sticky" and go over all the grounds just to make sure you have good contact and nothing is corroded.
Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by vettenuts
It would seem to me if the water was deep enough to wet the BCM, then the PCM and TAC module likely got wet as well. They are behind the panel behind the passengers front tire. If you turn the wheel or jack it up and remove the wheel you will see the panel. Make sure it seals well when you re-install.
I would also check out Bill Curlee's ground thread which is a "sticky" and go over all the grounds just to make sure you have good contact and nothing is corroded.
Good luck.
I would also check out Bill Curlee's ground thread which is a "sticky" and go over all the grounds just to make sure you have good contact and nothing is corroded.
Good luck.
I agree on the checking of the grounds for corrosion.
