H3 Truck won't start after driving through water

[awalsh]

So I was just out driving around and found a not too deep flooded road and decided to drive through it. Mid way through I started to lose power to my wheels as if it was getting too deep so I pulled up onto a bank/sidewalk out of the water and as this happened the engine turned off. It wouldn't start so I got it away from the water and into a dry parking lot and tried to jump it but jumping it did not get it to start again.
Any ideas what could be wrong? Possibly the starter got wet?
In the past I have had problems with my terminals and battery not starting but this time it's more that that. The engine fully cut itself off.. And NO there was no water in the intake and the engine itself is fine


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[Kyle]

Hmmmmmm I'm gunna go with starter got wet, what happens when you turn key? Just nothing


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[awalsh]

Hmmmmmm I'm gunna go with starter got wet, what happens when you turn key? Just nothing


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It turns when on its own power, but not when I have it hooked up to jumper cables.


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[lowtrac]

Wet starter wouldn't have caused it to go dead. Sounds electrical to me. So it'll turn over when you turn the key, but doesn't when you're hooked to cables? That's strange in and of itself, but if the thing turns over jumping it off won't help anyway.

 

[RamRod]

How deep was the water?

BCM get wet?

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[awalsh]

Wet starter wouldn't have caused it to go dead. Sounds electrical to me. So it'll turn over when you turn the key, but doesn't when you're hooked to cables? That's strange in and of itself, but if the thing turns over jumping it off won't help anyway.

My guess is that something (water) shorted when I was going through the water. As I said in the past my cables were always being a pain in the ass and if they weren't cranked down my truck wouldn't turn over. I'm guessing if I let it sit for a little and dry out and re tighten the cables it should start. Now I am not sure why it would have died in the first place unless that scenario could cause the truck to turn off


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[awalsh]

How deep was the water?

BCM get wet?

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Not too deep, maybe bottom of doors for a few seconds but nothing in cab or engine bay
Nothing I haven't been through in the past


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[Panzer07]

Just out of curiosity your h3 doesn't happen to be yellow by any chance ??!!

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[awalsh]

Just out of curiosity your h3 doesn't happen to be yellow by any chance ??!!

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Ha! No black [emoji23]


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[lowtrac]

If you turn the switch on but not to the crank position, do you hear the fuel pump priming?

 

[awalsh]

If you turn the switch on but not to the crank position, do you hear the fuel pump priming?

Yes but a few times when it was cranking it almost started but made a weird buzzing sound


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[awalsh]

I'm guessing something is frozen and that it why it will not start. This does not answer why the truck stopped in the water


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[woodwardsh3]

if you have it in a garage put a fan blowing over the motor over night that may dry it out.

 

[awalsh]

Found water in the air intake and on the spark plugs. Possibly hydrolocked. Going to hook up a battery and see if it is going to turn


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[CaseyS]

Pull the plugs before you do that or if it is hydro locked you risk bending a connecting rod and trashing the engine.

 

[awalsh]

Pull the plugs before you do that or if it is hydro locked you risk bending a connecting rod and trashing the engine.

I tried jumping it a few times before I realized there was water in the engine, but now the plugs are out. Battery is dead/bad so I have to wait to get it charged tomorrow or to see if the battery is even good anymore. Then I'll see if I can get it started. If not its off to the shop for a diagnosis


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[woodwardsh3]

what air intake is on your h3, and keep the plugs out and turn the motor over to blow out the water,like the others said.

 

[awalsh]

what air intake is on your h3, and keep the plugs out and turn the motor over to blow out the water,like the others said.

That's the plan, and I have a stock intake with a k&n filter.
My main problem right now is that I can't get it to turn over.
Little bit of water in the intake, small amount on spark plugs, but nothing visible in the cylinder heads. Tried vacuuming it out and nothing came out.
As I said, after putting in a fresh battery I'm sure it'll turn over or else the starter may be shot. It hasn't fully turned over since the incident, only got it to for a second once after.


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[Vdawg1115]

Was your fuse box soaked? That did it for mine a few months ago. Shorted one of the relays

 

[awalsh]

Was your fuse box soaked? That did it for mine a few months ago. Shorted one of the relays

Not a drop, the passenger side dipped into a "deeper" section of the road for a few seconds.
Question, what is the vertical line that runs up to the air intake box? It seems that water might have been sucked up through there.


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[08H3]

Not trying to be an ass here, nor am I trying to kick you while you are down, but you need to give the full story before asking for input. First you said there was no water in the intake, then later there was. First you stated that it was to the bottom of the doors then the passenger side went "deeper". We've all done some dumb stuff-- at least I certainly have. Just confess the whole story and then you'll have a better chance of getting valuable suggestions. Either way, sorry about your luck. Hope you get it straightened out soon.

 

[4speedfunk]

08H3 was with me, when I dunked my right-front fender below the surface of a big ole mud hole. It stumbled but, never died. We immediately opened the air box and there was two or three cups of water in it. The filter was soaked. We mopped it up as best as we could, and put it all back together. Never got a CEL. Never had any other issues. Went home and ordered a Safari snorkel the following day.

 

[awalsh]

Not trying to be an ass here, nor am I trying to kick you while you are down, but you need to give the full story before asking for input. First you said there was no water in the intake, then later there was. First you stated that it was to the bottom of the doors then the passenger side went "deeper". We've all done some dumb stuff-- at least I certainly have. Just confess the whole story and then you'll have a better chance of getting valuable suggestions. Either way, sorry about your luck. Hope you get it straightened out soon.

You have to realize that I said all of those things after I slowly started taking everything apart and posted about it on here.

I just pulled the oil drain and there is 0 oil in the engine, so basically it seized while driving through the water. Must have had a few drops of water find itself into the engine which was enough to make it seize
I'm going to buy oil and hope for the best


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[650Hawk]

Definitely sounds like hydrolock; it doesn't take much water to do it.

 

[awalsh]

Definitely sounds like hydrolock; it doesn't take much water to do it.

Agreed. Going to have it taken to my cousins shop for most likely a rebuild.

Today also realized the oil pan is cracked and that is why all the oil came out, must have been because of water from flood inside of oil pan when the temps dropped over night causing it to freeze and crack.


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