Single click, no crank

bluekryptonite
Thu, 21 Sep 2017 18:08:42 +0000
Maintenance/Repairs

Recently, my car got flooded with standing water. By the time I got to it, water covered the seats and the airbag light was on. Water was in the engine compartment when I popped the hood. There wasn’t much I could do at that time, except to remove the battery. The water was high enough to get in to the air filter, but I haven’t seen any water in the engine or transmission (no beading on either dip sticks). I let it dry for 3 weeks with the battery out. When I finally connected the battery, I hear a single click from the starter and nothing else.
The car was in fine condition before it got water inside. Always started up like a champ.
I charged the battery before installing it, so I know it is a good battery. All the dash lights are on and the dome light does not dim when I turn the IGN key to start position.
I used a 2×4 to hit the starter while someone was turning the key. All that happened was the loud single click from the starter.
Since the sound came from the starter, can I assume that the connections to the starter and IGN switch are ok?
I have not provided electrical power to the car since the flood (till it dried up).

Can standing water destroy a starter? Shouldn’t the fuse blow out if there was a short?
Anything that I can try before I attempt the PIA process of removing the starter?

Btw, as a friend suggested that I try to turn the engine back and forth with a wrench, which I did. That didn’t help either. Any useful insight from the experts will be much appreciated.

Thanks

26 posts - 13 participants