Rain Problems?
07-30-2001, 01:34 PM
#1
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Arlington, VA
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Rain Problems?
Hi,
I have an '80 Euro S, 73k miles on it. This morning I went out to start it after sitting 2 days in the driveway... during which time it rained fairly consistently (drizzled most of yesterday). The car was uncovered. When I went to start it, the car would not start. It would turn over, make rumblings like it wanted to start, but just couldn't manage it. Thinking perhaps I had flooded it (pumped the gas pedal a few times), I waited a few minutes and tried again. Car started, I revved up to about 3k, and it ran fairly smoothly. As soon as I took my foot off the gas pedal, it died. I have had problems before with rough starting/running in the rain... but nothing this severe. NOW... for the seemingly completely unrelated but wierd part: I went around to the car, inspecting the underside. Slow drip of water from battery compartment's drainage hole. Popped open the spare tire compartment, and discovered about 1/2" of standing water!! The mystery is: How did it get in there? All of the interior carpet is bone dry, the leather is dry, no visible sign of any seals that have failed... no visible entry path for the water. The battery compartment was, for the most part, dry (due to the seal around the hatch in bottom of spare tire compartment... but a little had leaked through, explaining the slow leak out the bottom drainage holes.
Now... after mopping up all the water, I tried to start again. No dice, and the central warning buzzer came on. I'm fairly sure this is a water related issue, as I drove it Saturday morning and it ran like a champ (when it was dry!)...
So the questions are:
1. How is the water getting into the spare tire compartment? (without getting anything else wet?) Could it be that water entering the car here is also getting into something else?
2. What could be causing this starting problem? 02 sensor? Water in the muffler/exhaust? In the fuel?? I'm at a loss...
any help/ideas greatly appreciated!
-Brian
I have an '80 Euro S, 73k miles on it. This morning I went out to start it after sitting 2 days in the driveway... during which time it rained fairly consistently (drizzled most of yesterday). The car was uncovered. When I went to start it, the car would not start. It would turn over, make rumblings like it wanted to start, but just couldn't manage it. Thinking perhaps I had flooded it (pumped the gas pedal a few times), I waited a few minutes and tried again. Car started, I revved up to about 3k, and it ran fairly smoothly. As soon as I took my foot off the gas pedal, it died. I have had problems before with rough starting/running in the rain... but nothing this severe. NOW... for the seemingly completely unrelated but wierd part: I went around to the car, inspecting the underside. Slow drip of water from battery compartment's drainage hole. Popped open the spare tire compartment, and discovered about 1/2" of standing water!! The mystery is: How did it get in there? All of the interior carpet is bone dry, the leather is dry, no visible sign of any seals that have failed... no visible entry path for the water. The battery compartment was, for the most part, dry (due to the seal around the hatch in bottom of spare tire compartment... but a little had leaked through, explaining the slow leak out the bottom drainage holes.
Now... after mopping up all the water, I tried to start again. No dice, and the central warning buzzer came on. I'm fairly sure this is a water related issue, as I drove it Saturday morning and it ran like a champ (when it was dry!)...
So the questions are:
1. How is the water getting into the spare tire compartment? (without getting anything else wet?) Could it be that water entering the car here is also getting into something else?
2. What could be causing this starting problem? 02 sensor? Water in the muffler/exhaust? In the fuel?? I'm at a loss...
any help/ideas greatly appreciated!
-Brian
07-31-2001, 05:15 AM
#2
Brian,
I don't think it's 'The Hounds of the Baskerville'.
If I was a betting kind of guy I'd guess water either wind driven, or, forced while you were driving climbed up the battery cable
/that other wire bundle that snakes around the battery box is the culprit. you guys have been getting an awful lot of rain lately - since May -.... I'd clean and dry both battery posts, lightly - 400 grit -the trunk ground point. Check the front chassis ground strap and starter leads. After that inspect the fuse closet (box) pass. side under the carpet for water/ moisture.
Wish we had your rain.
Good luck, keep em' rolling
John, 82' Weissach, Auto. 'Pattycakes'
I don't think it's 'The Hounds of the Baskerville'.
If I was a betting kind of guy I'd guess water either wind driven, or, forced while you were driving climbed up the battery cable
/that other wire bundle that snakes around the battery box is the culprit. you guys have been getting an awful lot of rain lately - since May -.... I'd clean and dry both battery posts, lightly - 400 grit -the trunk ground point. Check the front chassis ground strap and starter leads. After that inspect the fuse closet (box) pass. side under the carpet for water/ moisture.
Wish we had your rain.
Good luck, keep em' rolling
John, 82' Weissach, Auto. 'Pattycakes'