Repairing a flooded truck

I don't get why the dudes who stole your truck lit it on fire?

 

I take a plastic grocery bag and cover/painters tape the sides, of the battery, fuse block, alternator, and any other exposed electrical connections, just in case. Most modern engines are designed to withstand limited water in the engine bay but I don't like to take chances since water and electronics don't like each other.

You don't need to soak everything either, just a quick rinse to knock debris loose, use a small brush to dislodge with some de-greaser, then rinse again and wipe down for a quick detail.

Matt

 

Brush and degreaser then wipe down. 303 spray on hoses and plastics. I dont soak engine bay with water.

 

Not trying to take this off course, but this gets me to thinking about the warnings we see on the web these days about cleaning the engine at a car wash. Maybe illegal in some states, but not mine.

I know a lot of people still do this, but I gave up the practice after a very young 1st Gen Tacoma 2.4L downstream O2 sensor threw a code 2 days after I cleaned it. Gentle spray was used. Perhaps this sensor failure was coincidental to the car wash; nonetheless, it sticks in my mind.

Your dealers comment is interesting, and yes, it is reiterated throughout this thread by others.

 

This would be true but if nothing is energized when it went under, or not energized for too long, it would be possible to rinse everything in fresh water then let it dry completely (distilled water preferably) to remove any contaminants that conduct electricity. Water itself in non-conductive. It's the minerals and such in the water that's conductive. Anyway - just and electronic gets wet or even submerged doesn't mean its destroyed. As long as nothing shorted out it can be saved.

 

I highly doubt it was coincidence

 

I cover the fuse box and battery with plastic grocery bags but only because I'm paranoid. Shouldn't even have to do that.

What gets people in trouble is when they blast the engine bay with a high powered hose...yes most electrical things are protected from water but forcing water into them with a high pressure hose is another story.

Also not a good idea to do it if the engine is hot.

I give it a rinse with a light spray, then spray degreaser over it, then rinse it again.