Okay folks... To make a long story short I drove thru water that was a little too deep. The water was running across the road, so I couldn't really avoid it. Anyways, the engine sucked up water thru the intake and went dead. After I got it to crank up, I took it home and found that water got into the oil somehow. So I drained the water drenched oil, put some cheap oil back in to run thru the system, drained that oil, then filled it back up with Royal purple which is what I usually use.

I drove the car for the first time this morning since I changed the oil, and I get a CEL. Went to have it checked and it said the system was too lean. Now, I'm thinking I just need to take my MAF sensor out and dry em up with some brake cleaner or WD40. The engine misses a little driving down the road and it really bugs the hell out of me. I'm not getting any smoke from the tail pipe, no unusual noises from the engine when it's running, or nothing of the sort. Any other suggestions?

 

You need to change your spark plugs as well.

 

apparently i got water in my engine somehow as well a while back, but mine did not die it just idled horribly. brought it to the dealer and they had to change the plugs and coil packs in 3 cylinders. so I would try the plugs, or take it to the dealer and see if you can get it warrantied, mine was done all under warranty thank god.

 

Does it drive and sputter and smoke? This could be a real bad sign, like bye bye motor.

 

may need to dry/clean the MAF sensor too
that happened to mine!
ran like **** until i removed and dried it off.

 

Moral of the story?

 

DON'T DRIVE THROUGH STANDING WATER.... it's kinda an important tip thats been told to generation to generation!

 

yeah c'mon common sense would have saved you alot of headache...

 

did u not read what he wrote...it was running across the road..he had no choice....

 

**** if it rains, i drive my truck, i always watch the weather ever day, i aint having this happen to me

 

new moral of story, "put intake on top of motor and get hood scoop!" and stop making cobalts into pontoons!

 

get a short ram intake

i hear alot of engines that run through water always bend rods. if that happened, either new engine or get it rebuilt...

cant compress water

 

Uhm... has no one here ever heard to turn around..... wait not **** up your motor!

 

This is America you can do pretty much anything you want, even turn around and go a different way.

 

DA-ING DA-ING DA-ING

 

I watched a CRX go through water that was to my knees and get royally fucked up. It was a grand time. Water got into the engine and all the way into the exhaust, and even the floorboards.

The owner didn't give a **** and continued to drive it missing out for several weeks.

We were all kinds of fucked up that night.

 

Stock intake > Cold air intake

 

clean your MAF, change your plugs, and consider your upstream (hah, i made a pun) 02 sensor toast.

I had the same problem this past winter and my upstream 02 literally blew itself to pieces. I had to remove my down pipe and shake the little bits of 02 out of it.

I was lucky the car made it out OK.

lemme guess....your car bucks and jerks when you give it any more than half throttle untill the car is warmed up and then it runs just slightly better?

 

mashed potatoes man that is all you can do.....******* mashed potatoes

 

ok so how do u kow there wasnt a **** ton of traffic??? lol either way all im sayin is that common sense has nothing to do with this.

 

The MAF sensor is very sensitive use a sensor cleaner specifically for MAF sensors you don't want to use brake cleaner or wd40.

 

Cobalts don't get have a problem with water, OG posters will know what I'm talking about.

 

Okay... It was kinda the only way I had to get out? As I stated before, I work on AN ISLAND. Lewis, you know where Mcduffie Island is. It's actually pictured in your signature. Two different ways to the interstate. Both were flooded. I took the lesser flooded route, so there's the common sense whoever mentioned.

I took the MAF sensor out and sprayed it with some throttle body cleaner. It's the only thing I had readily available. I disconnected the battery cable and let it sit while I went to mobile to look at a new truck. When I got back, I put it all back together, drove it, and got the "system too lean" code again. Yes, it sputters and hops when I cruise.

On my way home, I tried runnin it a lil. The car is WAY slower than before... So much slower that a STOCK honda accord passed me and I couldn't even catch it. I couldn't even reach redline in 4th gear. I know this is because I'm not getting enough fuel. I haven't checked the upstream o2 sensor, but I'll do that tomorrow after I get my WOT box on. I'm also gonna take a peek at the ignition system and try to take it apart and see if any moisture got in there. Thanks for the suggestions. I have NGK's ordered from spark plugs.com and they should be here tuesday. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

EDIT:
I have a stock intake with an airbox mod and new k&n filter. I replaced the other filter after I made it out and to the parts house. Yes, the car bucks and jerks until it warms up and then it drives slightly better. My shot at moral of the story? Maintain your ******* roads and drainage systems. It shouldn't matter what you drive. Any state owned road you drive on should be fit to drive on with ANY stock height vehicle, wet or dry. Am I wrong?

I'll be getting an 08 toyota x runner next week anyways. I'll hopefully fix the car and sell it or just keep it and pay for both of em. Leave it parked and fix it up real nice like.

 

Yup. sounds like you fried the 02 to me. I had all the same symptoms. It is possible that the MAF is fried as well.

 

did you dry the filter and get all the water out of the intake system?