Water in the AIRCLEANER?!?
If the owner truly ran that rig into water until it got to the aircleaner, you have a job on your hands.
Once upon a time, when I worked at a local service station like many a kid (this might have been 1973), we had to dry out a Jeep Wagoneer. The owner had backed it down the boat ramp into Diablo Lake. Bear in mind it's backing downhill. This rig had two drive axles with their differentials, a transfer case, an automatic transmission, a V-8 with its usual crankcase and cylinders, a power steering pump, a four barrel carburetor, and an oil bath aircleaner. There was water in the oil bath aircleaner! That's how far he backed it down the ramp.
All of the above axles and gearboxes had to be drained and fluids replaced. Crankcase was drained and fresh oil put in. Sparkplugs were pulled and the engine cranked over to blow most of the water out. Before that, it was "hydraulicked" and wouldn't turn. I know we left the plugs out for a while, before installing new ones, but can't recall if we did anything besides blowing out the cylinders with air. Probably put a touch of light oil in there to help seal the rings.
Mechanic took the top off the carburetor and did his best to dry it out. I THINK we got most of the little parts back into it.
Distributor was dried out. I think we still had some carbon tetrachloride around for that. Power steering system was on the list for drain and fresh fluid, too. Yep, we finally got to that aircleaner on top.
We did get the rig running, though it sounded a bit rough. Can't recall if the fuel tank had to be drained and refilled, but I wouldn't be surprised.
If it is a gasoline engine that was drowned, it's probably salvageable. If it's a diesel, most likely internal parts are bent and/or broken. It's not surprising it won't turn. And it wouldn't be too surprising if the starter didn't work right, though they'll usually dry out. If a Ford type starter solenoid has been submerged, I'm not sure how hard it will be to dry out.
If the engine was not drowned, and that water in the aircleaner is from some other source, disregard the above. Maybe you really do just have a starter problem.
My experience is from a simpler age. I don't know how much electronic gear is in a '93 Explorer. Often, electronics do not like to be submerged.
Good luck.
BTW, power was out in Marblemount today. I went to rental two, and tried to start the 5kw generator. I thought Joel and I had tested it just two or three months ago, but the 10 HP Briggs didn't want to start. I finally went down to the local Chevron/convenience store (in our neck of the woods, "convenience" includes hardware, automotive items and fishing tackle) and bought a new sparkplug and a can of starting fluid. A fresh plug and a sniff of ether did it. Of course, shortly after we got the generator running, the power came on. Sure made me wish I could afford Honda generators instead of Generac from Costco. The one renter who has an electric start 5kw Echo that came with the house, told me her generator was doing just fine.
Twenty years ago Dec. 26th, I drove our Saab to Spokane, then had to get my sister-in-law's Alfa Romeo running (for some reason, Italian cars don't like zero temps). A fresh set of plugs and warming it a bit in the garage (wood heater in the garage) really made a difference. I think the Spica fuel injection had thoroughly flooded it. New plugs are a Good Thing.
crows.
