No crank 2 days after 4" puddle

[Tarquin]

Hi everyone,

My 2005 S60 has been sitting, unable to start for several days, there's no cranking when I try to start it. Everything else turns on, and appears normal.

I suspect something got wet, although all looks dry at the moment.

Six days ago, we had some serious rain and we drove through a deep puddle, about 5 inches at the side and 3 inches at the center of the road. In any case it looks like it ripped off the splash shield, unless the garage forgot to put it back on. (Just replaced a wheel bearing 2 weeks ago, and I hadn't been under the car since).My fear is that the front of the splash shield was caught by the water and it acted like a scoop, and basted the engine compartment with water.

The car kept driving right through the puddle, and preformed normally while running errands. Making several stops, and started back up with out a problem.

Came home, parked the car in the driveway, 2 days later, it won't crank,

Messages on the dash - Multiple bulbs out.

Things I've tried:

• Jumpstarting

• charging the battery - Voltage test across the battery terminals - 12.66V

• Voltage test - Positive terminal in the engine bay to the engine - 12.xx volts

• Voltage test - Positive terminal in the engine bay to the Starter casing - 12.xx volts

• Voltage test - Positive terminal of the Starter to the intake manifold - 12.7 volts

• Voltage test - Starter trigger lead to the intake manifold - 12.7 volts when trying to crank

I'm hoping that someone may have some ideas as to what I should look at next.

Just 3 weeks ago I changed all 4 brakes, sway bar end links, drivers door, and the trunk lock and wires, as well as the two taillights.

[scot850]

Are the mounting bolts for the undertray still in place? If they are and have bits of undertray still on them, it is possible it got ripped off in the water. No bolts, and then it was not there when it happened.

Trying to think if you had a lot of water in the engine bay could the car have ingested it based on the height of water you claim to have driven through. Now speed could be a factor here. If you were going hard enough water could have gotten into the intake.

Remove the airbox cover and see if there is water in there and if the air filter is wet. If it is dry and the airbox too, then chances are water did not get into the engine causing it to hydrolock.

Again water in the muffler system is also unlikely as you drove through and presumably did not stop in the water.

Check the engine oil for milkiness of water somehow getting into the oil. Also check the transmission dipstick and that the oil is not cloudy.

If that all checks out I think you may have dodged a mechanical issue internal to the engine.

Then it is down to the electrical and electro mechanical parts like alternator, starter and the likes getting wet.

Do you get zero reaction from the engine when you turn the key or does the starter click at all?

Scan the car with an OBDII tester and see if there are any codes showing that may help.

Neil.

[volvolugnut]

Just to be clear - does the engine turn over and not start? Or, is there no cranking sound at all?
volvolugnut

[Tarquin]

Thanks for your reply and suggestions Neil.

I forgot to mention, that :
- I did check the airbox, it and the filter were dry. Phew, although the car had been sitting for two days.
- I also checked the oil dipstick, all looked normal to me. No water droplets and regular looking oil.

I tried to connect VIDA/DICE, but get an error:
"Not possible to read out information from the vehicle No response from the vehicle. Possible causes are; Ignition is not on, the vehicle is older than model year 1999, defective CEM/CDM."

I'm wondering if it could be the transmission position sensor (neutral safety switch). I just don't know how to test it.

I also want to manually turn the engine, just to be sure it can move freely. I'm not sure if I turn it clockwise or counter-clockwise.

[Tarquin]

Just to be clear - does the engine turn over and not start? Or, is there no cranking sound at all?
volvolugnut

Thanks for your reply Volvolugnut,
No the engine doesn't turn over at all, there is no cranking sound at all.

[jonesg]

wild guess, the starter got flooded, i'd bench test it.

[volvolugnut]

Try getting a wrench on the end of the crank and rock the crank a little. The starter might be jammed in the flywheel teeth. Maybe.
volvolugnut

[Tarquin]

Try getting a wrench on the end of the crank and rock the crank a little. The starter might be jammed in the flywheel teeth. Maybe.
volvolugnut

Thankfully I was able to rotate the crank with no problem. And all of the accessories were freely rotating as well. No belt slippage.

I then tried to start it again.... no luck.

Moved on to the starter removal.

[Tarquin]

wild guess, the starter got flooded, i'd bench test it.

Thanks, I'm trying to do that now. The wires are disconnected, the stud bolts are out, but I have yet to be able to remove it. It seems to be stuck on the pin.

I'd like to avoid hammering it off. It seems best to test it before damaging it.

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[scot850]

Can't recall, but does the 05 have the rear end of the starter mounted on a bracket like the P80's? I don't think so.

The starter can get hung up on the dowel pin. If you can't just work it back and forward to break it loose, you may have to try a pry bar or a flat blade screw driver gently hammered between the flange and the starter near the dowel.

Neil.