Need help fast!!

[Bennybooster]

So yesterday I went mudding with some buddies and I was most of the way through a hole and my engine dies, I said no prob this has happened before cause i thought it was water in the distributer caps. After thoroughly drying them the engine would still not turn over so i redried them and ttried again, same result. So then I check the intake, as soon as I open up the air filter box some water pours out, turns out my filter is soaked, but I checked the intake past this point and it appeered dry so at this point we called someone too pull us out so i left the caps openn and my filter on the roof to see if i could dry them. When our ride gets to us it has been about 45 minutes and the filter still isnt dry but I tried anyways and put it all back together and still no ing at all. So he tows me back to my house and I leave the filter by a fan all night to dry and I leave the caps open and this morning I put it all back together and it still wont even turn over. At this point im getting frustrated and a little worried so I call up my friends dad who is a mechanic and he says check the starter solenoid, unfotunatly I really have no idea what one looks like so despite all my searchings through trs, google and my manual I still cant figure where or what it looks like and if that is even the problem.
So my questions are can anyone post a pic of the starter solenoid for a 96 3.0 4wd 5speed ranger?

Can anyone think of any other possible problems ( Please dont say hydro locked cause if that happend I would be screwed)

And can anyone give me any other insight as to what to do in this situation.

Please be quick cause I need to get to work at 530 tonight and I cant go long without a vehicle. Thank you
-Ben

 

[Ranger Dave (B25)]

Your airbox was full of water?

Take ALL the spark plugs out and then try to spin the engine around with the starter. Sounds like it might be hydrolocked. Not good. If water blasts out of the plug holes, replace the plugs after you crank it a few seconds to clear the cylinders, drain the oil and change it and the filter. Run it a few minutes, then another oil change.

If you hear no horrible noises or see no leaks, you should be ok.

 

[Bennybooster]

Yeah I found water in the oil so im going out right now to see if I can rotate the engine

 

[Bennybooster]

Well I went out to remove the spark plugs and due to the idiocy at for there is the back left that I cant remove so I got the rest out and still cant rotate the engine so my mechanic friend is coming over tomorrow morning to work on it with me, lets hope it aint hydro locked

 

[nate09]

when you turn the key does it make any noise? like the starter is trying to engage or spin?

 

[crbnunit]

Be careful if it is hydrolocked. I stripped the teeth off of my ring gear that way. To get that plug out, go in through the fender well. You can slip through the shock tower opening or just remove a few screws and pull it out of your way.

Put a wrench on the harmonic balancer pulley. If the engine turns, it is not hydrolocked. If the starter is not at least trying to start it, you have a problem in that system. Check the connections and the grounds. Your mech buddy will walk you through it. Pay attention and learn, You'll be doing this out on the trail at midnight one day! LOL!

If there is water in the oil you need to also check your transmission fluid and the differential fluid in both the front and rear diff's. If it is milkey white, change it, run it for a day or so and change it again. Ain't playing in the water fun?

 

[feellnfroggy]

Did you notice any temp changes when you were in the mud hole? ANy water in your radiator? If not you might have over heated everthing real bad. Water in the oil from hydrolock? I hydrolocked my mustang and the oil wasnt bad. But if you crack or warp a head then you get water all through your oil.


And I also was gonna suggest turning the motor by the crank. If it is hydrolocked then now is a good time to learn how to rebuild a motor. Its salvagable but not without some time and work.

 

[Bennybooster]

Its full of coolant and I dont think it overheated, ill diagnose tomorrow and let you guys know

 

[strvger]

don't bother checking the tranny, transfer case and axles for water...
just go ahead and change everything! as said above, run it a couple of days and change them again. they're probably overdue anyway and this way, you KNOW there is no water in them. i've done this myself and 3 oil changes with filters and 2 changes of all the rest of the fluids and i've put another 15k miles on my trail rig with no problems. just my $.02.

 

[06RangerXLT]

why would you check your trans and diff fluids? their separate and sealed from any water. unless you crack a case your fine. as for no start, guarantee your hydrolocked. pull your plugs, change your oil and fire it up. its just water, not acid.

 

[crusin93]

why would you check your trans and diff fluids? their separate and sealed from any water. unless you crack a case your fine. as for no start, guarantee your hydrolocked. pull your plugs, change your oil and fire it up. its just water, not acid.

No, they are not sealed. They have vents that allow the gases to escape into the atmosphere. Unfortunately, the vents will also allow water into the trans and diff's if you go in the deep end.

 

[crbnunit]

Yea, even better is they are hot when you hit the water. When they are hot, they breathe out. When you rapidly cool them, the vent acts just like a big old straw and the diff/trans go SLURP! if you play in the water an mud, you will need to extend your breathers. I recommend these:
http://www.trail-gear.com/diff-breather.html

 

[Bennybooster]

why would you check your trans and diff fluids? their separate and sealed from any water. unless you a case your fine. as for no start, guarantee your hydrolocked. pull your plugs, change your oil and fire it up. its just water, not acid.

Because the axels were buried in water and I have at least one bad seal in the front.

 

[Bennybooster]

don't bother checking the tranny, transfer case and axles for water...
just go ahead and change everything! as said above, run it a couple of days and change them again. they're probably overdue anyway and this way, you KNOW there is no water in them. i've done this myself and 3 oil changes with filters and 2 changes of all the rest of the fluids and i've put another 15k miles on my trail rig with no problems. just my $.02.

Yea I actually changed the oil like two months ago

 

[kimcrwbr1]

If the gearboxes were hot when you submerge them as they cool they will suck water in change the oil in the engine first then get it running as soon as possible pull all the wiring connectors apart and spray them with elect cleaner blow them dry and put dielectric grease on them when you put them together. There is a possibility on bending a connecting rod but you wont know until you get it started. Also dont turn it over until you change the oil so you dont pump water in the oil journals in the engine bearings dont like water too much. GL