wet rover!

[wimp]

OK, so went in some water! a good amount of it.

"the guys" get together every year for a fishing trip in Connecticut. Almost nobody ever brings a rod. Fun weekend , but I think I messed up the rover a bit. A jeep cherokee with a 4" lift and 33's decided to go through a water crossing and got stuck. I told the guy that the water was crotch deep (I walked in with a set of waders on and probed for rocks and logs beforehand).
The crossing has a steep muddy descent to the water. three feet of water for about 15 feet and a gradual exit out the other side. He tried going through and couldn't make it. Hydrolocked the engine. To his shame, I pulled him out with my disco II.

To add salt to his wounds, I attempted the water with the disco. I dropped into the water, navigated the crossing and came out the other side...NO PROBLEM!

I turned around, wend back through the crossing, but couldn'e get enough momentum to climb the steep muddy bank. The car stayed running, but the rear end was under water almost up to the rear window. Most of the car was out of the water though (the front end). I got hooked up to the recover vehicle and out I came. Still running and driving fine. The little bit of water that seeped through the rear cargo door's seal ran forward and got my carpets wet!

A little later I noticed that my rear SLS wasn't pumping. Noticed a blown fuse for it. after trying to replace the fuse, pulling the pump down, drying all the connections, and re-trying ...sounds like the pump is "bogged down" (maybe full of water?). seems like a bad spot to locate a pump that is suseptable to water infiltration. Anyway,

my rear door lock won't allow me to open the rear cargo door. when I try to unlock from the dashbopard button, I hear a fast "Click, click, click, click, click" but it does not open the door. the handle on the door feels like it is not connected to anything.

Also, the truck appeared to drive fine while I was at our camp site., but I really wasn't driving more than a few feet at a time. Once I wanted to drive home, I noticed that all I had in high range was 4th gear (I think it was 4th). I drove home at 3200 rpm and 65 mph for two hours. Not too bad considering the alternatives.

So....

I will pre-answer a few questions that I am sure some of you will pose when trying to help me on this one.


How much water was in the car?
Do you think you fried the ECU under the seat?

It was damp under the seat, but not soaked. I don't think there was enough water, but I am not sure. The water was only in the rear until I got to flat ground. the water rushed forward and got forward carpeting wet.

Did you check all the fuses yet?
I did not check every fuse yet, but I will. Hopefully I can find a fuse for the rear door lock, but it sounds like there is power back there and the rest of the doors work.

oh yeah the headlights don't work, they are just the little dim ones. hopefully a fuse?



The good this is that the rover made it where the jeep couldn't!

[p76rangie]

You have found the flaw with DII's. That is, can go anywhere, but not built to survive water and mud.

[wimp]

ECU under the seat?!?!?
you've got to be kidding!
why?
soccer mom got the best of rover on that issue!
oh well, she's mine and I still love her

[wimp]

is there an ECU for just the tranny?
anyone have any ideas about why my truck only has 4th? (I think it is 4th)
is there a separate ecu for the tranny that I could've fried?

thanks

[wimp]

All easy miles
never off roaded
never been under water
Custom lowered rear suspension for that ghetto look!
custom 1 speed gearbox

low miles
priced to sell!!!

[Roverhound]

The transmission cu is under the drivers seat underneath the stereo amp. Take it out and spray it down with WD-40. Wipe away the excess and make sure the connectors are clean and tight when ypou plug it back in. This may or may not clear the transmission problem.
The rear door sounds like the latch is stuck. Climb in the back and open it from the inside, take the same WD-40 and spray it in the latch assembly. Hopefully that will free it up. That's a common issue with D2's , the latch gets gunked up and sticks.

[wimp]

I opened the rear door just now from the inside.

I had campoing gear packed in there really tight which put a lot of pressure on the door from the inside. once i cleared all the gear the door opened with ease from the inside and out

thanks for the advice

I will try the tranny ecu deal. I think the amp is dead too
my speakers POP! whe the stereo is on.

[wimp]

Any ideas on the SLS pump?
will they get hydro locked if submerged?
if so can they be flushed out or purged?
will my airbags be full of water too?

[p76rangie]

WD40 is not the best thing for items like ECUs. Better off using an electrical contact cleaner. Can get it from auto or electronic stores.

[wimp]

noted!
I have heard of people using it for that purpose, but I wouldn't have. The main point is to clear out all the moisture and let dry.

thanks

[Disco Mike]

Originally Posted by wimp

Any ideas on the SLS pump?
will they get hydro locked if submerged?
if so can they be flushed out or purged?
will my airbags be full of water too?

I doubt you got any moisture into the bags, as for the pump, it is designed to pump air not water and it did probably suck in some water. At this point, I would say if you can take it out and try to drain then dry out the pump it is worth a try, otherwise your will be looking at a replacement pump.
I have driven thru some deep water before with my SLS with no problem, but with the angle you got stuck at I woul say that water most likely got sucked into the air intake.
The good news is there are plenty of used pumps out there.
Mike

[Roverhound]

Wimp, I am an electronic technician. Contact cleaners can actually damage some circuit boards and plastics that's why I recommended WD-40.
Just remove the excess, you'll be fine.

[wimp]

sorry, roverhound. I would never have guessed that! WD sounded a bit odd, that's all! I thought it was like spraying oil on the board and it would not dry and leave it all oily. Sounds like you know better than me!

thanks for the help


Disco Mike, can I take that pump apart to get the water out? or is it magically sealed and un-serviceable?

thanks

[Disco Mike]

I have never had a problem with mine and so I don't know what will come apart and what results might come from it, sorry.
Mike

[p76rangie]

Roverhound, what is the difference between an Electrical Techician and a Electronic Technician. I would have thought that one dealt with mains power type activities and the other looked after electronic items like circuit boards. But I am not up with the trade names in the US.