So I have a 2009 cobalt ss with cold air intake below passenger side front tire. I loved that mod alot but was afraid of driving when it was raining so I was going to relocate it up top. Well of course I ended up running it through a huge puddle before I got the chance and the car instantly died. Every time I have tried to start it it just clicks and hums and the anti theft light flashes. I don't feel like i sucked up water into the engine but feel like something short out rather. I have checked all of the fuses but am going to go through them again since it's been quite a long time ago. Does anyone have some experience with this issue.

 

Have you disconnected the battery for at least 10 to 30min?

 

Yea I actually have had it disconnected for almost a year this time before trying to start it.

 

Have you disconnected it after the water incident?

 

Not sure how long ago the issue happened with running into the puddle, but I would start with removing the cold side of the charge system (post intercooler) and look for water.

Then I would remove the spark plugs and look for signs of damage on the plug or water on the plug.

Then with the plugs removed, I would attempt to turn the engine over by hand using the crank pulley bolt. If it doesn't turn over by hand, then remove the serpentine belt and try again (a seized serpentine pulley or accessory can cause a car not to turn over).

Doing that should give you a good idea if there is mechanical damage, the theft light flashing is concerning but I don't recall how the theft system works and my cobalt isn't in the same state as I am in currently.

 

I will do what you have suggested and probably should have done that along time ago since it happened like a year and a half ago. I was frustrated with it because it wouldn't even try to crank over just click and hum kind of like when you have a dead battery plus theft light. Trying to turn it over by hand seems like a good idea. Thank you. I will work on it this weekend and see what happens.

 

this is why u dont have intakes down there. clean ur maf, drain ur oil, u sucked up water.

 

I had a close experience down here in South Florida. After I decided to go SRI, the filter was all rusted in the tip (cheap intakes with metal lid) and the hose clamp was rusted too. Luckily no water was sucked in.

 

Was driving and my radio boost gauge and power steering just stopped working and now it won’t start with the key but I can push start it and it will run… anyone know what would be wrong?

 

Battery. Possibly alternator. Start the car. With it running, disconnect the negative terminal. Does it die or keep running? If it dies, it's the alternator. If it stays running, it's the battery.