Drove through a big puddle last night - thoughts?

SaberX on 19/04/2016 - 10:50
Last edited 19/04/2016 - 10:54

Ok, so i probably shouldn't have, but last night's deluge of rain at night in Perth resulted in some big pooling of water in various areas and unfortunately i decided to cross one via the opposite site works of the road having seen another car come through.

While i did lose traction and power from probably the depth of the water (it was deep enough to arc/splash onto my bonnet). I got out anyway, no engine spluttering, nothing weird. Drove home. Went out this morning and happened to mute the radio. I can hear what (for lack of automotive knowledge) id assume would be a timing belt or mechanical part, constantly physically working when i pickup speed from stationery say over 30km. It's like a cross between a clinking and a trains moving hence why i liken it to a timing belt. The thing is i have a 2009 honda civic vti and im pretty sure they don't come with belts anymore?

I havent gone faster than 70-80 yet but sound remains. Now im not sure if its just paranoia and paying more attention to my engine more due to driving through the puddle - but could there be any damage from driving through a puddle?? It could be normal physical engine workings but obviously post puddle i may be overthinking my hearing. It's not faint but loud enough to be prominent (but not too prominent to know it's definitely buggered or something is not right)

If my engine is otherwise picking up speed, power and operating normal, does this mean i made it fine through the puddle without water getting in? Or can there be secondary damage that despite an engine that feels fine, could cause the mechanical sound i hear?

Anything else could be causing it? I did scrape my bottom of car abit while mounting the median strip to go to the other side of the road (everyone was doing it to turn around anyway) so not sure if the noise could be suspension based or wheels?

I need to find a good mechanic sor for my regular km servicing but it may be a good week or two. Anything i can do to troubleshoot or pinpoint any lasting problem?

Automotive

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Euphemistic on 19/04/2016 - 10:59

Dear god, it's no wonder people get washed away. You drove into a puddle so deep it was up over the bonnet and lost traction, not knowing how deep it was? Then you scraped the car on the median?

Stop driving it and work out what is wrong by getting it to a mechanic.
holdenmg on 19/04/2016 - 11:09

When you called RAC Roadside Assistance, what did they say it was?
SaberX on 19/04/2016 - 11:14

No, it wasn't deep that i literally floated. What i meant was the water causes a loss of traction in tyres - which i guess is normal whichever depth puddle you go through. THe puddle wasn't over the bonnet, the arc/splash from the tyres and cutting through the puddle cuases the water to splash up over it. If it was that deep i think i would have stalled in the first second.

As mentioned you have to cross the median to either a) turn around by going the other side of the road or b) driving on the wrong side of the road. A car had slowly just gone through the puddle and so i figured it had pooled but was ok to drive at a slow pace.

@holdenmg - I didn't call RAC roadside assistance, as mentioned I drove through and home.
illumination on 19/04/2016 - 11:20

+1

Drove through a big puddle last night - thoughts?

I think it sounds fun..!!
Wait.. you're that bastard who splashed me and got me drenched. Thanks!
- SaberX on 19/04/2016 - 11:33
  
  Definitely wouldn't have been anyone walking that road with the amount of rain coming down last night! :O
airzone on 19/04/2016 - 12:06

+2

Does the sound change with engine rpm or road speed? If it changes with rpm, then it could be something on the accessories line. Things like water pump, aircon, power steering, alternator.

If it's constant regardless of the engine speed, it could be the fan.

If it's relative to road speed, and not engine speed then something in the drive line… e.g. cv joints, etc.
- SaberX on 19/04/2016 - 12:24
  
  it's a constant sound (in terms of noise level) once i reach 30 km/hr. It stops once i brake and ge tbelow 20-30km/hr. So stationery, no sounds, no shuddering in engine. It' sjust once i top up my speed does the sound click on, akin to the part 'activating'….
  
  If it's road speed relative as you said, will it likely be a serious/costly repair? Booked myself in for a regular servicing for thursday morning, will drive light for next day or two.
  - airzone on 19/04/2016 - 13:41
    
    It's hard to say without experiencing the car..
    
    But one of the things that operates on and off independent of car and engine speed is the cooling fan. It's generally activated by water temperature (which tends to reduce at speed due to airflow).. However you would also notice this as it clicks the fan on during a traffic jam for example. But you can check the fans by looking at them with the engine off (and cool), and you could probably rotate them to see if they feel rough or smooth (again, cool engine while off only).
    
    One thing to be cautious of is sometimes driveline noise isn't apparent until you hit a certain speed and the noise becomes loud enough to hear.
    
    Having the pro look at it is the best thing, but from the sounds of it it will be OK for a few days.. In terms of cost, it depends on what is found. A fan will be cheap, but a cv joint or wheel bearing not so much.
    - SaberX on 19/04/2016 - 14:15
      
      Understood. I don't know much about the mechanics of a car so I wouldn't even be able to inspect filters or look for the fans (fine if i had someone to show me the ropes, but my parents have no clue so im on my own). I've booked in on the Thursday morning anyway - guy has 15 years experience, began his work under jeep etc, done heavy diesel fitter roles etc, so hopefully pretty mechanical/full on. Sounds like a genuine guy trying to build a repeat business based on integrity and not ripping you off for an once off gain. So hoping he can take a look and see if the noise is due to something nasty.
      
      He reckoned (on the phone) that the water could get muck/dirt onto the belt at times, which results in the noise and squeek. so to clean the belt and/or let it dry off. It may still make the noise. But will be good to get him to check it out and confirm anyway. I'll just drive minimal - 10 or so kms to and from the train station, for today/tomorrow until i get it checked out.
      
      Fingers crossed.

Drove through a big puddle last night - thoughts?

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