98 gsx filled with water

[dankaren]

we are new to seadooing and took our recently purchased 98 gsx ltd out today. Well it turns out the drain plug was left open and it half filled with water. just above the battery level. I bailed it out fairly quickly but now it wont start. Sounds like the cellunoid is engaging but thats it. What have I done!!!!!!Any help would be appreciated

 

[Dr Honda]

Get it dry... and get that engine started. If water got in to it... it won't last long. If you get it started... you will purge the water and it will be fine, but that needs to happen within minutes of water ingestion.

 

[dankaren]

thanks but how...the thing wont even turn over!!!

 

[Cornnutt]

sounds like water is in the engine take the plugs out and ground the plug wires. Then turn the motor over until all the water is out. Put a old towel or something over the spark plug holes or it will be like a fountain. Only run the starter for a few seconds at a time letting it cool for awhile. When all the water is out put plugs back in and start. This needs to be done soon.

 

[Dr Honda]

If it's "FULL" of water... you won't be able to crank it since you can't compress the water. Pull the plugs and try.


BUT... if it sat overnight with water in it... the crank and the main bearings are going to be done. Even if you get it started now... it wont last long.

 

[dankaren]

Thanks for all the help. I guess the grounding of the plugs i couldnt figure out. So I covered the wires with rags and pulled the plugs, at first it only turned a little and only a little water came out, then on the next 3 or 4 cranks much more water came out until it was only a mist, I then covered the holes with my fingers and this allowed more mist to escape. I did this probably 15 times for 10 seconds. We then put the plugs back in and a new battery as this one was now quite weak and tried to start it, it tried for about 5 minutes and then it did start. We ran it with the water attached for about 3 minutes and then put it in the water and ran it for an hour as the dealer recommended. We ran it 3 or 4 more times that day and all was well. Dr Honda, thanks again but from your message I could be running into more trouble soon..are there signs during operation I should look for or should I get someone to look at those particular parts?

Thanks Again

 

[Cornnutt]

There are grounding plugs back by the battery. They look kinda like the top of the spark plugs. You need to ground them every time you turn the motor over without the plugs in the cylinders. If you dont you could fry electrical parts expensive. Glad to hear it all worked out for you.

 

[Dr Honda]

Dr Honda, thanks again but from your message I could be running into more trouble soon..are there signs during operation I should look for or should I get someone to look at those particular parts?

Thanks Again

Glad you got it going.

At this point... run it until it gives out. There is no reason to have someone take you engine apart, unless you are just going to do a rebuild.

What happens is, with the water in the engine, the bearings will rust. Once you get the engine restarted... the rust will polish off the surface... but those little pits will let it run a little rough. In turn... shortening its life. It could give up tomorrow, if the bearings were already damaged... or it could run a long time, if the bearings were good. Either way... the longer the water sits in the engine, to more damage you get.