Is300 Stalls

[davp9353]

My wife drove through a street full of water and stalled the car. Is it possible for the water to go into the engine and crack a piston? if not, what would be the best way to get it started? wait 24hr until it dries up and try to start the car? if the check engine does not turn off, is there a way to reset the computer?

Thanks

[bartkat]

Is the air filter wet? If so, replace it or take it out and let it dry naturally on a piece of newspaper. Take a flashlight and inspect the inside of the intake tube. Chances are the Mass Airflow Sensor got wet causing a misreading and hence the CEL. To reset the computer, once you have all that dried out, disconnect the negative battery terminal for 20 minutes, then reconnect, then start the car. It's really doubtful you got water in the engine unless the air inlet was actually submerged. That would be pretty hard to do considering it's location.

[davp9353]

Is the air filter wet? If so, replace it or take it out and let it dry naturally on a piece of newspaper. Take a flashlight and inspect the inside of the intake tube. Chances are the Mass Airflow Sensor got wet causing a misreading and hence the CEL. To reset the computer, once you have all that dried out, disconnect the negative battery terminal for 20 minutes, then reconnect, then start the car. It's really doubtful you got water in the engine unless the air inlet was actually submerged. That would be pretty hard to do considering it's location.

Thank you for the help. I was finally able to start the car and replace the air filter, but after driving for a couple of the days the check engine along with the track light came o. I am now resetting the computer in hope that it will clear the check engine light. How do you check the rest of the sensors or the CEL where are they located?

Thanks

[steviej]

mutilple sensors can be the cause for a lit CEL.

when the light is on, go to Autozone and have them read all codes in memory. Then post them, we can tell you what each code means. This will help you find out which sensors may have been damaged.

Just reseting the CEL may not solve you problem. Treat the cause not the symptom.

steviej