Van

Yesterday the temp climbed to 55 degrees , so I thought that would be an excellent time to wash the salt off the cars. I did my wife's first, then the 996. Afterward, when I was ready to pull the 996 back into the garage, it wouldn't start... this morning it still won't start.

I did do a "thorough" engine wash... (figuring I wanted get all the salt out - so I sprayed every which-way!)

Any ideas how to get "it" (whatever's wet) to dry out faster?

I wonder if something could have died. If it still doesn't start tonight, I'll plug my durametric into it and see what it says.

LVDell

Van....when I did the thorough engine wash I used my leaf blower. Works like a champ. I also use it on the exterior (especially the wheels and cracks where body panels, etc, meet) to really help with the water removal.

As far as why it doesn't start, that I have no idea about. What did you use to clean the engine bay? Hose? Power washer?

Van

Just the hose with one of those sprayer nozzles set to "jet". So, pretty good force and pretty good volume.

LVDell

Probably a stupid question, but did you poke around inside and make sure nothing became disconnected or looked wrong?

Van

Not a stupid question... No I haven't.

LVDell

In that case, I would check to make sure nothing seems "not right".

RF5BPilot

This may be a problem of water getting into cracked coil packs. Do you have a way to check for error codes?

redridge

Does it make any noise at all?

Van

I have the Durametrics program - if it doesn't start when I get home from work, I'll plug that in and see what it says.

Redridge, it cranks over, but it doesn't sound like any cylinder is getting a spark (i.e. it doesn't sound like a lawnmower that's starting to catch...)

I'm not too familiar with the internals of the 996 engine, but my hunch would be something like a missing TDC or RPM signal from a sensor (maybe a connector plug got wet and has changed a sensor's resistance...)

If it was just a wet coil pack, I'd expect it to sputter and start, but run ragged (since some plugs would be firing).

maci911

was the engine running during the wash......it should have

cdodkin

cracked coil packs are always a good bet for water based issues - but i'd expect rough idle and a CEL rather than nothing in that case.

Sounds like something more fundamental, effecting the ability to start at all...

WD40 sprayed on/around electrical connectors is always a good trick - WD stands for water displacement, and it does an amazing job!

Van

Of course not! Otherwise I wouldn't have had the problem!


Is that what it really stands for?

cdodkin

Yep - it was designed for the US rocket program, and it's Water Displacement, formula # 40

http://www.wd40.com/about-us/history/

Designed & produced here in good old San Diego!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40

I've seen a WRC car stall after being immersed in water going through a water hazard - the co-driver then opened the hood and sprayed WD40 on the electrical connectors - car started and completed the rally stage.

Amazing stuff!

Van

Hooked up Durametics - no injectors are firing. Checked all the engine bay plugs I can find (really just the 2 big ones on the right side) - everything looks OK.

Check the fuses - #C2 is blown (fuel injection, O2 heaters and some other engine electronics). Replaced the fuse and she started right up!

gota911

Glad to hear that!