Car won't start after soaking last night

quad_red

Guy in work has an O2 Astra. His GF drove it through the port tunnel last night, through a 'considerable' puddle of water that came half way up the wheel..

Seemed fine, drove home last night. Seemed fine this morning, drove it to work this morning.

But it won't start now. Electrics appear fine (lights can be turned on etc.) but the engine isn't starting at all and the immobiliser warning is on the instrument panel.

Any advice? Aviva advised that a technician could be 12 hours away...

mecanoman

I did something similar last year with my 99 Clio.

Next day i had problems, didconnected the battery, got out a hair dryer and prayered!

Did the trick and went grand till i sold it two months ago.

quad_red

mecanoman wrote: »

I did something similar last year with my 99 Clio.

Next day i had problems, didconnected the battery, got out a hair dryer and prayered!

Did the trick and went grand till i sold it two months ago.

Really? But given that the lights/radio etc. are all fine and the immobiliser lights are showing etc. Doesn't that mean the battery is giving charge?

listermint

quad_red wrote: »

Really? But given that the lights/radio etc. are all fine and the immobiliser lights are showing etc. Doesn't that mean the battery is giving charge?

TBH, it could be anything, Water has obviously gotten in somewhere it shouldnt. I would hazard a guess that it wont be solved easily. And might just need to sit our drying for a while.

Only thing you can do is make sure the alarm is off and maybe if possible deactivate the immobilser.

corktina

quad_red wrote: »

Really? But given that the lights/radio etc. are all fine and the immobiliser lights are showing etc. Doesn't that mean the battery is giving charge?

I think it possible he's saying the immobilser reset it self once the battery was reconnected.

quad_red

Thanks for replies guys.

Aviva guy got to the car, diagnosed a damaged battery. He changed the battery and it started straight away. She's on a long drive now to charge the battery up.

That was less painful than expected!!

unkel

Great you got going again for minimal cost

Looks like a short somewhere killed the battery. Could have been a lot worse (i.e. dead ECU)!

1shayd

went out to my astra this morning, started fine, went to the supermarket, came out and the key remote wouldn't work, got into the car and turned the key, and nothing. no ignition light when i put the key in, its just dead, tried the battery and still nothing, would reseting the ecu help. or any other help would be appreciated

barura

1shayd wrote: »

went out to my astra this morning, started fine, went to the supermarket, came out and the key remote wouldn't work, got into the car and turned the key, and nothing. no ignition light when i put the key in, its just dead, tried the battery and still nothing, would reseting the ecu help. or any other help would be appreciated

Change the battery or try and jump start it?

If you're on a hill, you could give a hill start a try.

Cuddlesworth

barura wrote: »

Change the battery or try and jump start it?

If you're on a hill, you could give a hill start a try.

There are no electrics active. No point since the spark plugs won't fire.

Start with fuses. Although it sounds much worse then a fuse gone.

1shayd

the radio and windows and all the lights work, it just wont start, when i turn the key there is nothing, not a sound,

mullingar

1shayd wrote: »

the radio and windows and all the lights work, it just wont start, when i turn the key there is nothing, not a sound,

Try a push start, if it starts its probably your solenoid/starter.