Help needed for Subaru Impreza GX 2004: flooded in quake

[HenryDorsetCase]

Our car was parked at the side of the road in Ferrymead last Tuesday. Liquefaction, burst watermains (not to mention burst sewers) created a rising tide. Ick. It got into the car mostly through into the front passenger footwell.

The car will not start. All the dash lights work, all the functions appear to be intact, the motor turns over, but it will not start.

I suspect that one of the computers is in the front passenger footwell.

Any tips or checklists of what to check would be great. We've picked the vehicle up, so no problemo there. I have tools, and time.

Thanks a bunch :)

[DEATH_INC.]

Best thing would be to plug 'er in and get any problem codes. Not sure if you can do it yourself or if ya hafta take it to a dealer, search the interweb, lotsa suby clubs out there.
Most cars have the ecu in the left door pillar/ footwell area.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I've taken the seats out, the console out, and the carpet out: there was 3 inches of silt and water in the left hand footwells. And one of the big computers is in that footwell. And it had a wee bath.

Thats as much as I am doing: the insurance can take care of it now: the only issue is that the dealer is Rick Armstrongs, and they're behind the cordon. I'll try them on Monday, and the insurers.

[BASS-TREBLE]

I would've guessed that a fryed computer wouldnt let the engine turn over?
Could the plugs possibly be earthed out by having water trapped in the plug cap?

[schrodingers cat]

ECU's most definately DO NOT like being wet. Especially don't like submersion

[SMOKEU]

At least we now know that Subarus don't make good submarines.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I would've guessed that a fryed computer wouldnt let the engine turn over?
Could the plugs possibly be earthed out by having water trapped in the plug cap?

I tried that but no water there.... thats why I thought it sensible to at least uncover the computer to see if it had been wet. And it had :(

I just didnt want to leave it for a week till the dealer could get it: it would have absolutely reeked by then

[HenryDorsetCase]

heres a couple pics.

[YellowDog]

Glad to hear you're OK after the big shake(s).

It's good to hear that you have your ignition lights on. At least the diagnostics will be able to run. It is unlikely that the potentially drowned ECU will spring back to life when it all dries out, so don't hold your breath.

An OBD2 lead to a laptop is what you need.

Good luck.