Water Crossing - Stall Recovery

[luxa]

Some years ago (before I had a license - let alone a 4by) I read an article on water crossings and an "emergency" procedure for vehicles that have stalled due to water in the electrics, rather than loss of traction.

Essentially the article recommended putting the vehicle into either 3rd low, or reverse and cranking the key to "start" - essentially driving out of the water on the starter motor.

As I havn't seen or heard of this technique in at least a decade I'm curious if anyone has heard of it, or better yet tried it and how it worked??? Orhas this method gone out the window with the new computerised motors??

Obviously this has the potential to damage starter motor & ringgear etc - but having the vehicle submersed has to be a lot worse when you consider the water in the motor, radios, fridge motors etc etc.......

Up to ten years ago it was still taught within highly disciplined government agencies ::)

Done properly, there should be no damage to the 4WD, in principle it's no different to stall recovery during an ascent or decent, just longer...so your batteries better be up to it, thats all.

Of course, it will only work in a manual.

[Mick.]

If I drove a manual and was in that situation i'd definently try it. Providing your not bogged it would work. Lets face it if your in this position your got nothing to lose. :( :(

[taziiy]

i have used that technic and also just a snatch strap and a pull out when with another vehicle wich is most of the time when it happens

[ben85n]

Yeh i read the same article some time ago i think,
i presume it would work, but i think it you wud have to wheigh up how deep u where n how quick/if you could get a snatch?
id try it if there was no other option n i was up sh*t creeck without a paddle!!! ;D ;D ;D

[GQ96]

In the discover tasmania DVD they speak of water crossing techniques and roothy mentions this and a last ditch attempt to the you that last little bit.

[2 BRUTAL]

There is no reason why it wouldn't work as HT said should do no damage to motor etc, but 1 would think if you are crossing a creek and get water in and have electric problems then you wouldn't have power to your batteries either, would only work if say you had a wet "dizzy" and you could still wind the motor over

[baby_troupe]

As long as the motor has not sucked any water in (including up the exhaust), that procedure is fine.
If there is water in there, it won't crank for long ;)

[Redfox]

I used this method once when my Cortina died due to a wet dizzy crossing a flooded road. The water was only about 30cm deep but not flowing. The engine stalled and wouldn't restart so I cranked it out. A couple of cranks later it sputtered into life and off I went. The only thing you can damage is the startermotor. I had modified the 6 cylinder starter by fitting the carcass (field coils) from a Ford V8 1.3 HP starter for just such a situation.

[cpt-mud]

it will work, but can put a large strain on the starter motor, and battery. i would only use it as a last ditch attempt.

[Nux]

I've used this many times in my old Landy, that old Dizzy seems to be very thirsty only needs to see a decent puddle and she stops.

u could always leave it there and get a diesel :P

[Brendan]

I ran out of fuel one day on a main road, couldn't push the datto up and over the slight incline on the shoulder so I cranked it off the road on the starter, only problem was I got the idea as I was pushing the A-Pillar, and promptly after the first crank managed to get my right foot stuck, with no shoes, under the back tyre!

[PJ.zook]

I ran out of fuel one day on a main road, couldn't push the datto up and over the slight incline on the shoulder so I cranked it off the road on the starter, only problem was I got the idea as I was pushing the A-Pillar, and promptly after the first crank managed to get my right foot stuck, with no shoes, under the back tyre!



I bet the swear jar got a substancial monetary boost that day!

[Broadys GU]

After a short crank, doesn't the water start getting drawn back up the exhaust as their is now a lower pressure in the pipe ?

[dogbreath_48]

After a short crank, doesn't the water start getting drawn back up the exhaust as their is now a lower pressure in the pipe ?


Can't see why there would be any negative pressure in the exhaust... I think it'd take a while for water to get to your engine via the exhaust - inless maybe you were on a steep downward incline, in wich case you'd be wondering why you tried to drive into the pacific ocean...

[Broadys GU]

Without exhaust back pressure and the greater effects from deeper water, it probably would begin working its way back into the pipe, how much i don't know. Don't know if it would be an issue or not but someone may have experienced it, or been in a pretty bad spot that didn't.

Just one of those thoughts.

[big60]

Up to ten years ago it was still taught within highly disciplined government agencies ::)

Done properly, there should be no damage to the 4WD, in principle it's no different to stall recovery during an ascent or decent, just longer...so your batteries better be up to it, thats all.

Of course, it will only work in a manual.

I can do that in my auto as I have riged up a bypass switch to the inhibitor switch so that if it won't start I flick a switch in the cab and can start in any gear as my inhibitor switch was faulty and could not aford a new one at the time

[fuzzzy79]

I had to do it a few times in my old FJ 40 with a 308 holden motor. It was in the NT and water was generally about a meter deep. I could use high 1 or any of the low range gears and just drive out on the starter motor. The battery never really complained about it and I never sucked water in through the exhaust.

[DX80]

I think if it was a Diesel and u had water in the pots it would just stop. To much compression and water dont compress

[Brendan]

You should ask ubern00b about this topic. Word on the street is he has firsthand experience.