[thinkmink]

New to SubaruOutback.org. I have 2010 Outback 3.6 and 2017 Legacy 3.6. Outback is my swiss army knife and has weathered blizzards, hurricanes and nor-easters without a single issue till now.

Reading forum about Engine, Cruise, Brake Christmas Tree effect on forum. I had to run through a 4-5" of standing LI Sound water with Outback today after NorEaster and started getting the Christmas tree light effect. AGM Battery 1 mo old and gas cap tight so those are not issues. Car was running rough after passing through water and the idiot lights came on. Checked air box and battery cables and everything is fine. Car has since "dried out" and engine seems to be running fine.

Has anyone had similar issues after running through standing water? Unfortunately, passing thru standing water from storms is getting to be a regular fact of life where I live on Long Island and won't be able to avoid it. That is reason why I have Outback and leave wife's Legacy in driveway under such conditions. Just as precaution I will go to Autozone for computer check. I hope its not O2 sensors...

 

[eagleeye]

how deep was the water on the car? where was the water line under the hood?

as this is on Long Island, was it salt water?

(and I would park on a higher end of a street, and walk home, if you driveway gets some water backing up in it).

 

[thinkmink]

Eagleeye,

Water was well below hood but gave the car a good bath while passing thru it. Yes - it is indeed salt/brackish water from LI Sound backwater cove.

 

[eagleeye]

Eagleeye,

Water was well below hood but gave the car a good bath while passing thru it. Yes - it is indeed salt/brackish water from LI Sound backwater cove.

salt water :surprise:

it maybe well below the hood, (like it was not splashing over top of it, but still splashing up under it around the engine and battery, making for electrical shorts )


@Brucey @MiddleAgeSubie etc. advice to a fellow H6 owner from your experiences fording brooks,... ....outside of get a lift kit.

 

[rasterman]

You get the lightshow because Subaru made a design decision to make a big lightshow as an attention-getter, starting with the 2010 models. Too many people were simply ignoring the lone check-engine light.

The car is illuminating the check-engine light (and thus all the others) because there are a lot of sensors below your self-imposed waterline. Not all of them are waterproof, and in some cases they simply can't work underwater. Example- a catalytic converter simply cannot maintain normal operating temperature when submerged. There isn't enough waste heat to sustain the reaction when it is cooled by water from the outside. So even without water intrusion into the electrical system, the car is being pushed outside its normal operating parameters and it's completely fair to expect a diagnostic reaction. It's just annoying because the display behavior has been cranked up.

It's theoretically possible that they could put yet another sensor under there to determine if the car was in deep water, then use its data to suppress the other warnings. But that isn't something available off-the-shelf in modern automotive management systems, and Subaru's price targets demand high usage of off-the-shelf technology.

 

[thinkmink]

Salt water is scary but a way of life around here. Normally, I would bring car to local carwash and have undercarriage sprayed down but I am afraid to do anything now. No joke - lift kit may be in order. Already have Geolander AT/S to deal with winter and washouts.

 

[thinkmink]

Rasterman and Eagleeye,

Thanks for your quick replies. As a matter of precaution I will bring car to Autozone for computer check. Its 5 miles vs 10 to dealer (which is closed) and i need car tomorrow for work. Salt water is scary and I am worried about O2 and/or tranny sensor line issues.

 

[eagleeye]

sometimes a night in a heated garage with a air-furnace is all something needs to really dry out,

but you got to take steps to keep the salt water from getting up where it can hurt things.

...or buy a cheaper car to abuse like a beach car.
(think 1990-1995 EJ22 subaru,....or a 1990s jeep 4.0 wrangler or cherokee sport).

 

[MiddleAgeSubie]

In my case it was an improperly installed transmission harness at the factory that allowed water to get to some sensor. That's what I was told. Back then, I did no work on my cars so I did not inquire any further. Never had issues with water crossings afterwards though I never did more than half a dozen. Similarly, no issues with standing water after it was replaced.

I would not worry under 15" at proper speed but you can hyrdrolock in 5.

If you are just driving paved roads, you can opt to just ignore this. In my case, the car would shut off, then re-start. Later, the lights would come off, could be 24hr later.

 

[eagleeye]

In my case it was an improperly installed transmission harness at the factory that allowed water to get to some sensor. That's what I was told. Back then, I did no work on my cars so I did not inquire any further. Never had issues with water crossings afterwards though I never did more than half a dozen. Similarly, no issues with standing water after it was replaced.

I would not worry under 15" at proper speed but you can hyrdrolock in 5.

If you are just driving paved roads, you can opt to just ignore this. In my case, the car would shut off, then re-start. Later, the lights would come off, could be 24hr later.

those places on the north shore of long island have lots of cul-de-sac streets and the high tide water just comes up into the neighborhoods during coastal storms. (south shore has homes / bars on barrier islands and similar issues).

paved road or not, a low pot in a street can get pretty deep unexpectedly.

like every utility pole and stop sign/ needs a water depth gauge on it.


or all subarus need pontoons,...and a propeller.

 

[thinkmink]

All,

Quick update - I just got back from Autozone and computer set off P0306 which is Cylinder Six misfire. While driving car there and back vehicle had no issues. I removed GND from batt to reset code and so far no issues (while parked). I think water may have got into cylinder plug cap and has since dried out.

I appreciate everybody's response and am seriously thinking about lift and undercarriage pans since standing brackish and salt water is becoming more of a frequent occurence where I live. Car is daily driver and not used for toying around unless going to mountain getaway or kayaking. Car has been extremely reliable and I use it to get my wife to medical clinics (60mi away) during the worst of weather when 1st responders won't venture out. Based on reliability of Outback we bought a 2017 Legacy 3.6R for her to drive daily but we rely on Outback in bad conditions since i have it setup with Yoko AT/S's and Hella Fogs for supplement lighting as needed.

Glad I joined Forum. I'll do my research on lifts and post updates.

 

[subiesailor]

Give it a good rinse