Pontiac Repair: 97 grand am ceased engine, auto repair shop, running the water

Question
Hello,I have a 1997 grand am se v-6 recently I went through about a foot of water on a flooded road I was almost through the water and the car died.Tried to start it and the only thing that happens is makes one clicking sound.All lights ,radio,blinkers etc. all work.I had it towered to a auto repair shop I take my cars they said that the engine was ceased.There is oil in car never had ticking or rapping sounds from engine before it made no noises when it died in the water it just shut off.I don't believe that just going through water would cease up an engine except being hydro locked which it isn't.please tell me what you think THANKS,JEFF

Answer
Hey Jeff:

What happened is the engine hydro locked. meaning the engine fulled up with water when it was running the water filled up the cylinders and the engine can't compress the water. Most of the time it does bad damage it bends parts in the engine and then it will not turn over. In some cases if the water didn't fill it up in a fast mannor and the engine wasn't running to fast it may just have filled up the cylinders enough to make it quit running. If that were the case removing all the spark plugs and then turning the engine over to expell all the water it may be okay...... That is may a 1 in 10 chance. if the plugs were removed and the engine will not turn over it bent something and the engine is junk. Hope that clears it up a bit. Good luck :)