Well I didn't have the time to wash the car so i ran through a spray only carwash. On my way home the idle was horrible, almost stalling then smelling like raw fuel. I assume the Air/Fuel was changing to keep the car running. So I get home and open up the hood. Water is still dripping from behind the passenger side header (I'll certainly clean out the windshield drain now). The car is running like the timing is way off. The spark plugs are dry as are the wires. The passenger side floor mat is soaked as is the fuse panel. So pulled all of the fuses to see if anything was bad. A few were wet but none were blown. I blew it all out with an air gun and tried starting again, same rough idle about 200 RPM and almost die. In first gear I had to get 'er up to 3000 rpm just to get going. Punch the thottle and it just bogs then gets up to speed. Currently she is sitting inside with the windows open to air out. Any ideas on what to look for if she doesn't idle well after drying out? Did it slip into limp home mode? I'll disconnect the battery for a few mintues then reconnect it and try it at lunchtime today.

How can you tell when a relay is bad? The rear defrost/defogger relay was buzzing so I pulled it, cleaned it and put it back in seem s fine now..

 

Curt...........is it possible you have water in the air filter/ MAF area? Also, check the electrical connection to the MAF.............did you hose off the engine during the wash? If so, check the distribs and coils.

 

Air filter was dry as was all of the motor area. When i did the TB/WP the passenger side ignition coil to distributor wire pins was corrded. So I assume water can get in there or at leats did at one point. I'm going to look into that today.

 

That'll teach ya!

I'd say let it dry out for a couple of days and then investigate. My guess is that one of your coils may be out as a result of your zeal to get the car clean. Could also be a distributor. This would explain the rough running/fuel smell as only one bank may have been running. Worth a look.

 

I had corrosion too on original wires at the coil, one side, caused some power issues at cruise. Recently changed new wires in at 88,000. Car was always garaged. That connection must be prone to corrosion. When I changed the wires I gave each a dab of dielectric grease.

 

Sorry, drivers side wire into the ignition coil. Pulled it out and water came with it. Blew 'er out and dried the pin, runs great now.


Anyone have a drivers side coil wire? Maybe I'll just take a wire brush to it and thro in some die-electric grease.

Vroom vroom again.