KZJ78 in Houston with a problem

[SBT2003]

All,
KZJ78 in Houston with a problem that I'm hoping to crowdsource a solution for. The car will start (most of the time) and idle fine. it will even drive fine. then the check engine light will start going on and off and I can hear a click coming from somewhere in the center dash area...sounds near the cigarette lighter area. The light flashing and the click happen at the exact same time. then the engine will stall and die. Here are all the other facts.

1. Car did not get flooded but was in water up to just under the running boards.
2. The glow plug indicator stays on all the time
3. there is a dual battery system installed but the rear battery is dead and i doubt the solenoid works.
4. While I havent driven through any extremely high water it has been extremely wet and water has likely splashed up into the underside of the car.
5. I thought it may have been water in the fuel so I siphoned off as much of the full tank as I could and filtered it through a water separator. I added an added an additive for getting water out. I then ran the engine idling for 1 hour.
6. I drove it around for about 15 mins and it was good.
7. This AM I drove it 30 mins to work and 30 mins back. It was fine. I then tried to leave again and the same problem occurred.

Can anyone help me get back on the road?

 

[GTSSportCoupe]

I usually attack problems like this by starting with the obvious issues. Sometimes the more subtle things will fix themselves afterwards. I'd start by dealing with the dead battery.

Is the KZJ78 a 12V system with a 12V starter? I thought the batteries were always in parallel? If so, what solenoid are you talking about?

I've had water up to my running boards quite often with no problems.... The lowest sensors are on the injection pump and the crank position sensor I believe. Your problems don't sound like they are related to these.

 

[clintnz]

These are designed to splash through water, I wouldn't get worried about that until water went over the top of the wheels & even then problems are unlikely until it sucks it.

Multiple funky electrical stuff can often be caused by the main connections around the battery, earth cables & alternator so check all that first.

Then you need to figure out why the glow light stays on, check if the glow plugs are actually being powered also. These are switched by a relay which could have jammed on, it pulls a lot of juice which could be upsetting something else. Find & check that relay.

Cheers
Clint

 

[RhinoRig]

Did you check for a stick gator? Or maybe a colony of floating fire ants has nested in yur alternater.

 

[kbushnz]

I had something similar... The battery terminals were slightly corroded so even tho they were tight they did not conduct too well. Gave them all a clean and refitted clamps... All was good in the world.

 

[Burbot]

Have a volt meter? What does that tell you. Only chk e lite comes on?hows your battery cables ends etc. is it secure in tray. When you say it won't start do you mean it spins on starter but won't start, or it's dead totally