Has anyone ever left the bonnet open in the rain and had a drenched fuse box etc.? Will my old Skoda dry out okay. Battery buzzes when I turn on ignition. I am using a hairdryer to dry it out. Just hope there's not too much damage.
Drenched engine
- Thread starter zaffy123
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Modern vehicles can cope well enough with this.....but what do you mean - the 'battery buzzes'?
Dry off the battery top, around the terminals (especially the positive one).
John
Dry off the battery top, around the terminals (especially the positive one).
John
Burnerman";p="3012458 said:Modern vehicles can cope well enough with this.....but what do you mean - the 'battery buzzes'?
Dry off the battery top, around the terminals (especially the positive one).
John
Not new 1998
The buzzing has to do with electric and water, they are not happy companions. The fuse box and wires were drenched. I am drying everything out with a hairdryer. I thought someone might know if there will be permanent damage. If no one knows the answer, then time will tell me. I will carry on with the drying process tomorrow.
Thanks for your interest.
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It will definitely dry out OK, its turning the damp circuits and components back on, will do the harm.
So if you can blow the water out with maybe an air line or foot pump? SAFELY get a bit of heat going under the bonnet to dry out the dampness you cant see?
It will just take a bit of time so be patient
So if you can blow the water out with maybe an air line or foot pump? SAFELY get a bit of heat going under the bonnet to dry out the dampness you cant see?
It will just take a bit of time so be patient
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Problem is there is no hard and fast definitive answer. Best advise can only be dry everything out the best you can before switching anything on.
If the vehicle is a 1998 model then there is probably not much in the way of 'hi tech' on-board electronics so hopefully everything will work ok. Unfortunately a case of having to sweat it out to be sure - sorry.
Thanks, now I can sleep tonight - although - have turned ignition on a few times to test - what is the worst scenario for that? Depending on your answer, I will or will not sleep well tonight.
Seems I have jumped to too many conclusions.
I thought the battery was flat because I thought I had left the headlights on because the alarm door contact switch no longer works on my 1998 Felicia pick up. So I bought a new battery. But before replacing new battery I left the bonnet up in the rain. I replaced a new battery and it started to buzz. I checked the fuse box and it was drenched and I thought it was because I left the bonnet up in the rain.
I sucked out the water with a wet vax and dried it with a hairdryer. Today the van is drenched again.
I checked my original battery the charge was fine after all. It turns out, I did not have a flat battery and the inside of the car did not get wet because I left the bonnet up.
The problem is that rain has found its way into the van all by itself and interfered with the electrics etc.
It may be the window screen seal has worn - but before I jump to any more conclusions is there anything else I can check, such as worn washers or blocked vents?
If you can be bothered to read all of this - thank you.
If you can be bothered to reply - an even bigger thank you.
If you can be bothered to reply with some advise - a massive thank you.
I thought the battery was flat because I thought I had left the headlights on because the alarm door contact switch no longer works on my 1998 Felicia pick up. So I bought a new battery. But before replacing new battery I left the bonnet up in the rain. I replaced a new battery and it started to buzz. I checked the fuse box and it was drenched and I thought it was because I left the bonnet up in the rain.
I sucked out the water with a wet vax and dried it with a hairdryer. Today the van is drenched again.
I checked my original battery the charge was fine after all. It turns out, I did not have a flat battery and the inside of the car did not get wet because I left the bonnet up.
The problem is that rain has found its way into the van all by itself and interfered with the electrics etc.
It may be the window screen seal has worn - but before I jump to any more conclusions is there anything else I can check, such as worn washers or blocked vents?
If you can be bothered to read all of this - thank you.
If you can be bothered to reply - an even bigger thank you.
If you can be bothered to reply with some advise - a massive thank you.
Things are a little clearer now....!
Check the area or void below the front wipers......this is called the scuttle and it frequently blocks with leaves etc and any water gets inside rather than draining away through the rubber pipes.
As for the soaked electrics, just dry all the fuses and the surrounding area, and don't be in too much of a rush to start things up - give it time.
Not many of those pick ups around now! They have a terrible rust problem on the rear wheel arches too.
John
Check the area or void below the front wipers......this is called the scuttle and it frequently blocks with leaves etc and any water gets inside rather than draining away through the rubber pipes.
As for the soaked electrics, just dry all the fuses and the surrounding area, and don't be in too much of a rush to start things up - give it time.
Not many of those pick ups around now! They have a terrible rust problem on the rear wheel arches too.
John
The buzzing noise - should it reoccur - is likely to be a relay (close to the fuse box usually). You can feel the vibration with your fingers if they are affected.
Yes, the scuttle is at the back of the engine bay, bonnet open.
John
Yes, the scuttle is at the back of the engine bay, bonnet open.
John
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The bit that catches the water running off the windscreen, under the bonnet? If you pour water in there it should drain away, but probably wont because as John says, one of the gutters are blocked. The gutters are just holes into the wing to let the water away.
Are the carpets wet or why do you think water got in?
Throw a cover over the van while its raining, anything will be better than nothing. The less rain coming off the windscreen the less likely to do more harm, while you find the blockage.
Have you good tight connections on the battery?
Are the carpets wet or why do you think water got in?
Throw a cover over the van while its raining, anything will be better than nothing. The less rain coming off the windscreen the less likely to do more harm, while you find the blockage.
Have you good tight connections on the battery?
Carpets drenched. Will throw cover over, thanks.
I've taken the battery out - but connections are good.
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