nlpamg

So I was driving in the parking lot of the driving range today, and I didn't have a choice and had to drive through this huge puddle. I didn't realize how deep it was until I got in it. (it was pretty dark and not really that well lit.) I heard a splash and decided to go through it pretty slowly. I then saw steam rise from my car. I got it to dry land and it was fine except steaming.

I hit a few *****, but I just didn't feel like playing anymore b/c I thought I damaged my car. I went back and it started and drove fine.

Could I have done some damage?

I think it could have been a foot deep. I also saw a post-2003 S430 with the AMG package go through it and I talked to the guy and he said that he went through fine.

Am I just worrying for nothing? What could happen?

Thanks!

revstriker

A foot deep shouldn't be an issue. I'd say you're fine.

JeT

Where was the steam coming from? Could have simply been steam coming off the brakes/rotors.

Capt Nemo o2

You should be fine, MB seals off the electronics pretty well, and the intake is pretty high, and you didnt stall so no water should have gone up the exhuast. Around here, whenever I go through a huge puddle, I rinse the bottom of the car with a garden hose ASAP. Around here you never know if its salt water or not which will F' up a car!

nlpamg

the steam was coming from the sides, so I take it it was the rotors. but there was a little heat coming from the front, so I thought the intercooler might have gotten wet as well.

thanks guys!

Capt Nemo o2

The steam was comming from the exhuast. Brakes and rotors dont give off that much steam when they get drenched.

nlpamg

oh, ok. thanks! I was born and raised in so. cal., so I totally don't know about any of these "weather phenomenon" that plagues other parts of the nation...

so if it didn't stall, then no water in the exhaust, and no damage?

Capt Nemo o2

Some water may have trickled into the muffler but it would have evaporated out after a few minutes of driving. So no, you should be fine mechanics wise as long as it was FRESH water. Whether or not any water damaged happened to the bottom (ie: water getting into the cabin and under the carpeting) depends on how deep the water was.

Tishers

I was wondering, rain in Southern California? You sure it's not the apocalypse? <s>

I agree on the exhaust system steaming up. Unless you just did some hard breaking from 100 MPH your brakes should not be throwing up tons of steam but your exhaust system will.

advans

I agree with Capt Nemo, around here in New York, once u hit a puddle, go home and rinse ur car out, or go to a local carwash, sometimes I hate it...water may look clean far away, but its so dirty =T its sick

nlpamg

haha, it is the end of days...

cool, I've never taken my car to a carwash place since I bought it (I've only had washed or had the dealer do it). perhaps I should take it into a car wash place to have them get the underbody.

thanks again guys!

r3v1ls

Not to worry you, but wasn't there a Topic not to long ago about how the poster went through a small puddle and the car stalled? And he ended up having to replace the engine. Yet he claimed that the puddle wasn't that deep. I'm just wondering what else could've happend. I too live in SoCal so I don't really know what could happen if i go through a deep puddle...

Bing

You have a german car...


Don't make it a german U-boat

vraa

Brakes and rotors steam like a mug!

FrankW

as long as you don't let off the throttle while going over the puddle, the water won't go into the exhaust.

the rotors can heat up very well to create tons of steam if you had just made series of stops. if the steams coming from the side there's no way it's coming from the exhaust a foot of water would've seal the room between the ground and the exhaust.

drexappeal

Phil,

No need to worry. If there was significant damage, your car would've stalled.

I used to run my MX-6 in rainy weather all the time (w/ a cold air-intake) and never sucked in any water to the engine. Just gotta be careful of puddles, regardless.

Gotta run, but I'll try to explain more later.

Capt Nemo o2

Actually the steam will come out from the side, especially on the right side with the 1.8L. The exhaust manifold is right there and the steam will rise and fill the engine compartment and the come out through the right side front wheel well.