engine bay water damage

[mightyduck]

Hi all,

Yesterday I gave my engine bay a simple green rinse out. I tried to be pretty careful and fully removed the battery and put plastic bags over the black box right behind the battery (between the battery and the driver), as well as the unit with brake fluid on top of it (also inline with the battery, aforementioned black box, and driver). I tried to avoid getting much water under the engine cover and really just focused on the sides of the frame.

Well, went to start the car and it does start but it doesn't sound very healthy. At first when it starts it has a strong healthy roar but then immediatly dies off and sounds as if it's going to die. It manages to stay idling but feels a little frail.

Just wondering if there are any specific spots I should check to make sure there is no water build up. As I'm sure you can tell I don't know much about the mechanics of these things but I'm guessing this has something to do with the spark plugs or starter or something of that sort?

Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[phatcheeks]

Check the airfilter? maybe it got soaked somehow. I spray down my engine every once in a while without covering anything and it starts fine, just some squeaky belts for a while then it goes away.

 

[mightyduck]

Check the airfilter? maybe it got soaked somehow. I spray down my engine every once in a while without covering anything and it starts fine, just some squeaky belts for a while then it goes away.

Shit interesting thought...that would kinda make sense since it seems to roll over fine initially. Really hope I wasnt sucking water into the engine.

 

[JuniorPigeon]

How many times have you started it since doing this? I could be completely wrong here, but I think there's a re-learning process. Last time (last week) I unhooked my batteries and put things back together it died right after starting. Started it back up and it was "weak" idling. Did that a time or two more after starting and then simply returned right to normal.

 

[patkelly4370]

I too occasionally spray dirt off my engines. Never had an issue.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Warwicke36]

Hi all,

Yesterday I gave my engine bay a simple green rinse out. I tried to be pretty careful and fully removed the battery and put plastic bags over the black box right behind the battery (between the battery and the driver), as well as the unit with brake fluid on top of it (also inline with the battery, aforementioned black box, and driver). I tried to avoid getting much water under the engine cover and really just focused on the sides of the frame.

Well, went to start the car and it does start but it doesn't sound very healthy. At first when it starts it has a strong healthy roar but then immediatly dies off and sounds as if it's going to die. It manages to stay idling but feels a little frail.

Just wondering if there are any specific spots I should check to make sure there is no water build up. As I'm sure you can tell I don't know much about the mechanics of these things but I'm guessing this has something to do with the spark plugs or starter or something of that sort?

Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.

It's possible you got water down in a spark plug tube and the coil's spark is shorting to the block bypassing a plug. Pull all coils and inspect for water.

 

[Piggity]

How many times have you started it since doing this? I could be completely wrong here, but I think there's a re-learning process. Last time (last week) I unhooked my batteries and put things back together it died right after starting. Started it back up and it was "weak" idling. Did that a time or two more after starting and then simply returned right to normal.

What Pigeon said is likely the issue. I've had the same problem after replacing the battery and alternator on my 06'.

 

[eleven14]

How many times have you started it since doing this? I could be completely wrong here, but I think there's a re-learning process. Last time (last week) I unhooked my batteries and put things back together it died right after starting. Started it back up and it was "weak" idling. Did that a time or two more after starting and then simply returned right to normal.

This. Recently installed a new battery in mine and it ran like trash for the first 50 miles. Idling issues aside, any issues while driving?

 

[Trumpet]

How many times have you started it since doing this? I could be completely wrong here, but I think there's a re-learning process. Last time (last week) I unhooked my batteries and put things back together it died right after starting. Started it back up and it was "weak" idling. Did that a time or two more after starting and then simply returned right to normal.

This, computer needs to relearn it's settings. Go for a drive, solves itself.

 

[mightyduck]

Just wanted to follow up here with some feedback. The symptoms seemed to be getting slightly worse over the last few days; car would shake when I was idled at stoplights, very weak when it was starting up, and just didn't feel right. I called my local shop and asked briefly explained and asked if I could brining it in and they said they were very busy but suggested that in the meantime (if I felt comfortable) I should pull the coils and make sure there wasn't any water in the spark plugs.

So, I watched some videos and realized how straight forward this would be so I gave it a shot. First, checked the 3 coils on the passenger side one by one. Each one seemed dry and as far as I could tell they looked fine. I figured I would start the car before pulling the driver side ones just to make sure that if I ****ed something up I could at least isolate it easier. Well, it started perfectly fine with a strong growl and seemingly fixed the issue. I'm wondering if maybe there was some water in the seal that didn't really make it into the coil but maybe changed the humidity or pressure inside the coil? And then by pulling them out and putting them back in it effectively re-set the pressure/environment inside the spark plugs? No idea if thats remotely plausible but it feels like thats basically what happened.

Anyway, crisis averted -- thanks for the help.

 

[Warwicke36]

Just wanted to follow up here with some feedback. The symptoms seemed to be getting slightly worse over the last few days; car would shake when I was idled at stoplights, very weak when it was starting up, and just didn't feel right. I called my local shop and asked briefly explained and asked if I could brining it in and they said they were very busy but suggested that in the meantime (if I felt comfortable) I should pull the coils and make sure there wasn't any water in the spark plugs.

So, I watched some videos and realized how straight forward this would be so I gave it a shot. First, checked the 3 coils on the passenger side one by one. Each one seemed dry and as far as I could tell they looked fine. I figured I would start the car before pulling the driver side ones just to make sure that if I ****ed something up I could at least isolate it easier. Well, it started perfectly fine with a strong growl and seemingly fixed the issue. I'm wondering if maybe there was some water in the seal that didn't really make it into the coil but maybe changed the humidity or pressure inside the coil? And then by pulling them out and putting them back in it effectively re-set the pressure/environment inside the spark plugs? No idea if thats remotely plausible but it feels like thats basically what happened.

Anyway, crisis averted -- thanks for the help.

Shoulda listened to me when I recommended it .. Glad you got ir sorted.