Major Help Needed(97 3000)

[Thrill]

My mother owns a 97 3000gt(the slow 160bhp SOHC 3LITRE V6...but hey it still gets all the looks) Well it rained like hell here yesterday and some of the roads kind of flooded out. My mom didnt realize how deep the water was on a certain road and the car ended up flooding out. How bad? To the point where the airfilter was soaked and about a pint of water was poored out of the intake hose. This all happened yesterday. She has since had the car towed today but the car will still not crank(air filter has been replaced) The only response you get when you turn the ignition is a clunk. The car still has all power as the lights and door alarms still work. A buddy of mine has the theory that the starter was shorted out when she tried to restart it. Does anyone know what the problem could be? Both a rolling(car is 5 spd) and a jump start have been attempted.


Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Wischmaster]

My brother had this happen... but he had a cold air intake. Not sure what the process was, but he ended up taking it to a mechanic and the motor was basically torn apart and "dried out." If you had any water come out of the intake after it was removed... not good.

[Stealthee]

If any water reached a cylinder then you are basically screwed. It could bend a rod like nothing. Water doesnt compress.

[Wischmaster]

This may be an opportunity for upgrade. Since the motor is most likely done for... ditch it for the DOHC. It will probably even out over the cost for repairs as for the cost for the motor. Actually, probably less.

Edit: I found a site that sells a DOHC (motor only) for $950 + shipping. It probably would be much cheaper just to upgrade and get rid of the SOHC. You'll thank yourself for it.

[Stealthee]

I most definitely wont be cheaper. If its $950 for the DOHC then figure another chunk of change for everything else to get it running properly. You need the ECU, wiring harness, power steering pump, alt, guage cluster, and a few other things. Plus the headache of getting everything wired properly. It would cost me twice as much or more to "upgrade" to the DOHC than to find another SOHC. On top of that it is a few hour job for SOHC to SOHC where as it could lead to a few day process going SOHC to DOHC.

[Twizted_3KGT]

Well too much water in the intake = seized engine usually. If you tried a rolling start and it didn't start then the starter is ruled out as a cause. But anyway with that much water coming out of the intake tube, i'd say you're screwed. How long did the car run with the intake under water?

Your only hope i'd say is change your oil, since it's contaminated with water and water + oil don't mix.

But most likely you're screwed. Cuz a clunk is not a good sound...click would be ok, clunk means broken engine.

[talskinyguy]

Pull the spark plugs and try to crank the engine. Most likely the engine is hydrolocked. If the engine cranks with the plugs out it will spray water out of the spark plug holes. Then pul some oil in the cylinders, and change oil. As long as she didnt have it floored and at a high rpm when it locked it will probably be fine.