Engine Won't Start After Hitting An On-Road Puddle

[Bmisk19]

Hello all- wanted to get the community's thoughts on this:

Last week, I was driving to work (2-door 7spd Badlands Non-Sas), someone was tailgating me a bit so I move over to the right lane, and I also had to make a right turn anyways. Shortly up ahead there's a decent-sized puddle from rain earlier that morning. I didn't think much of it, I had gone through puddles like this before, I probably go through it doing 30-35 mph. Water splashes up a bit, I hit the wipers, etc. I continue a couple hundred yards, but as I'm completing the right-hand turn I feel it lose power (engine was still on), and it revs a bit with it still in 2nd gear. Uh oh. My first thought was that I was lugging it a bit so I downshift into 1st, same thing. Then I'm not able to move, and the engine stalls out- at the same time I get one message on my display screen: "Full Accessory Power Active". That's it. I'm unable to start it back up. Foot on the clutch, press the button, it turns, starts to fire up, but immediately sounds bogged down and I feel the fuel pump cut. I try it again, same thing. Waited about 15-20 minutes, tried it again, same thing. Towed to the dealership that morning, they never were able to get to it that day. I went there after work and tried it just to see if it had dried out or something. Same thing. Note, no check engine light, nothing saying power steering unavailable or 4x4 unavailable- only the "Full Accessory Power Active" message.

Any thoughts?



UPDATE: the dealership was able to fix this by replacing the fuel pump and the fuel pump/drivers module

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[ScLeCo]

Bronco's apparently are like Mogwai you're not supposed to let them get wet.
My guess is the alternator.

 

[luvmybronco]

Alternator shouldn’t keep it from starting as long as you have juice in the battery for spark. But then again, Broncos are heavy with electronics. Maybe you got water in the intake

 

[Bmisk19]

Alternator shouldn’t keep it from starting as long as you have juice in the battery for spark. But then again, Broncos are heavy with electronics. Maybe you got water in the intake

This is kind of what my best theory was, maybe water somehow got in the airbox and the filter is clogged? I initially tried jumping it and that didn't do anything.

 

[0ne]

Disconnect battery, go have breakfast, reconnect battery and try again.

 

[Lcubed]

betting on an improperly seated waterproof connector

 

[dgorsett]

betting on an improperly seated waterproof connector

...maybe at the fuel pump.

 

[Headsong]

Hair dryer. Aren't plug wires still sensitive to moisture?

 

[Bellime]

Troubleshooting:
1) touch the start switch without break pedal depressed.
Does accessories light up? If not, electronics problem, check battery connection
2)start switch with break pedal depressed
Does the engine crank? If not, starter

do you get any fault codes?
Open air box, is it dry inside?
Tow to dealership..

 

[ScottyC]

Troubleshooting:
1) touch the start switch without break pedal depressed.....

For goodness sake...you don't want to brake it.....

 

[Bmisk19]

Troubleshooting:
1) touch the start switch without break pedal depressed.
Does accessories light up? If not, electronics problem, check battery connection
2)start switch with break pedal depressed
Does the engine crank? If not, starter

do you get any fault codes?
Open air box, is it dry inside?
Tow to dealership..

It already got towed to the dealership, however before it was taken to the dealership and I was trying to figure out what was going on, all of my electronics worked. Windows, radio, screens, etc. No fault codes. Again, only message I got was "Full Accessory Power Active". Engine does crank

Did not open up the airbox but I asked the dealership to.

 

[IDyeti]

Hello all- wanted to get the community's thoughts on this:

I continue a couple hundred yards, but as I'm completing the right-hand turn I feel it lose power (engine was still on), and it revs a bit with it still in 2nd gear. Uh oh. My first thought was that I was lugging it a bit so I downshift into 1st, same thing. Then I'm not able to move, and the engine stalls out- at the same time I get one message on my display screen: "Full Accessory Power Active". That's it. I'm unable to start it back up. Foot on the clutch, press the button, it turns, starts to fire up, but immediately sounds bogged down and I feel the fuel pump cut. I try it again, same thing. Waited about 15-20 minutes, tried it again, same thing.

Any thoughts?

Sounds similar to my fuel pump dying but not exactly, but I have an automatic. I also got a message saying to restart the vehicle along with full accessory power active message.

Mine died after wheeling for about 5 hours and refilling air in tires. Made a left turn back onto pavement and it studdered during the turn, gave it some more gas and no acceleration. Had just enough time to get to the shoulder and it was all tow truck from there. No fault codes on app. Module and pump replaced.

 

[Bellime]

It already got towed to the dealership, however before it was taken to the dealership and I was trying to figure out what was going on, all of my electronics worked. Windows, radio, screens, etc. No fault codes. Again, only message I got was "Full Accessory Power Active". Engine does crank

Did not open up the airbox but I asked the dealership to.

Keep us posted, please. This may be something easy to prevent once we know about.

 

[Bmisk19]

Sounds similar to my fuel pump dying but not exactly, but I have an automatic. I also got a message saying to restart the vehicle along with full accessory power active message.

Mine died after wheeling for about 5 hours and refilling air in tires. Made a left turn back onto pavement and it studdered during the turn, gave it some more gas and no acceleration. Had just enough time to get to the shoulder and it was all tow truck from there. No fault codes on app. Module and pump replaced.

That’s interesting, yeah sounds very similar, especially because you got the same display message. I’m wondering in your case would have been similar to me going through water? Maybe rocks shooting up and hitting the fuel pump? Or maybe what you’re saying is that it sounds related more to the turning?

 

[IDyeti]

That’s interesting, yeah sounds very similar, especially because you got the same display message. I’m wondering in your case would have been similar to me going through water? Maybe rocks shooting up and hitting the fuel pump? Or maybe what you’re saying is that it sounds related more to the turning?

No, not saying anything like turning or rocks as the cause. The fuel pump, the low pressure one, is inside the tank so a rock isn't going to knock it dead. Pure bad luck is the root cause in my opinion.

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