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Flooded car, running rich, black smoke

Sent to Car Experts April 20, 2005 3:34 a.m.

My son has a 1990 Honda Accord that he had a 1995 2.2 4cyl VTech put in. When the change was made, there was no hole to put an o2 sensor so he was going to put headers on later and that would give him a hole to put the sensor. The mechanic also had to wire in the map sensor but said but said he thought it was not working.But the car ran fine and he would work the bugs out when he put the headers on. So everything was fine even without the o2 sensor, it didn't somke or run rough. But we had a huge storm with flooding, and when he tried to leave work, the entrance was flooded more then he thought and he got stuck in the water with it even coming into the floor boards a little. He got pulled out but couldn't get it started.He runs cold air intake so he figured he sucked up water. But the motor was not hot, he had just started it. So he left it overnight and the next day went down and took out the spark plugs and turned the motor over several times till it seemed like all the water was out.He put in new spark plugs and after several times of trying to start it and spraying WD40 in the intake, it started right up.It seemed to run fine, and it sounded normal.So he drove it home and took it straight up to have the oil changed and still no problems. then the next morning on his way to work, it started running really rich, just eating up the gas and blowing black smoke, you could smell it was fuel.So he changed the fuel filter and ran treatment thru the tank.That did nothing. He even put in his old brain(computer) from his 1990 motor, which wasn't supposed to work with the Vtech, but did, but that still made no difference.We can't figure out what the flooding did to cause it to run so rich and smoke, it never did it before even without the o2 sensor. Any ideas??.....Thank you !!!.....Diane

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $10

Info Request
April 20, 2005 4:57 a.m. (1 hour and 22 minutes later)

REPLIED to Info Request

You just can't do the kind of modifications your trying on modern cars. Things just don't match each other. First of all, I don't know how you expect it to run good without an O/2, second, where did the water/coolant in the cylinders come from? Just be thankful you live in a state that doesn't have emissions inspections. It's sure a good argument for bringing them back though.

Tech501 -- Auto Service Technician -- 96% Positive Feedback on 739 Car Accepts
38 years exp, ASE Mastertech with L1 Advanced Engine performance

Reply to Tech501
Sent April 20, 2005 9:56 p.m. (16 hours and 59 minutes later)

The car was running really well before the flooding. How it was, I have absolutely no idea. the water I think came from when he went into the deep puddle and I think the cold air intake sucked up the water. That's the only thing I can guess happened because the motor was not submerged.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Info Request
April 20, 2005 10:56 p.m. (59 minutes and 55 seconds later)

REPLIED to Info Request

As for the water it could have very well been sucked up by the cold air intake, especially if the extension tube was used to put the cold air in the lower cowl area of the engine bay. There are several problems that could have been started by the flooded water. An air charge temp. sensor could have been damaged by the cold water as well as a mass airflow meter if this particular engine is equipped. The meters use a super heated wire that is cooled by air, when a liquid encounters the wire it can cause it to burn out and the engine could run extremely rich. As far as running the original computer it may in fact work but the v-tech solenoid is going to be deactivated and the ignition/fuel will not work properly hope this info could be helpfull, further info would be necessary to go any further, if the primary 02 sensor is left out the vehicle will run in limpin/open loop and poor performance/fuel mileage will result as well as a check engine light. As far as a map sensor, run the vehicle and unplug the map sensor, if the car begins to run differently you know that the sensor is doing "something" if the car does not respond to unplugging vacuum to the sensor then the sensor is not functioning and can in fact cause a car to run extremely rich and even flood the vehicle out. Thanks

runnin12s -- ASE Master Technician -- 100% Positive Feedback on 9 Car Accepts
Master Engine Builder / Degree in engines/electronics/steering/suspension etc.

Reply to runnin12s
Sent April 22, 2005 1:35 a.m. (1 day and 2 hours later)

Thank you for the info.The more my son and I learn about his car the better!! And you're right about the map sensor, someone checked it for him today and got it fixed and the car stopped smoking and his fuel mileage is more normal. So at least that part seems fixed, but now it idles high at about 3, then goes back down, and idles high when he's driving like the throttle's sticking.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Reply
Sent April 22, 2005 1:52 a.m. (16 minutes and 36 seconds later)

The smoking and running rich problem has been solved, it was the map sensor. Thank you very much to those who took the time to answer and help. I LOVE this site !!!

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

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