ghostwriter11

So my 996 C2 has decided to freak out in the rain storm we're having here in L.A.:

CHECK ENGINE light comes on.
ABS light comes on.
PSM light comes on.
Engine sputters and dies on acceleration.
Engine surges wildly on idle.

I can't believe this isn't somehow related to the rain (it happened twice during heavy downpour on Monday and Wednesday, but was fine on drier Tuesday).

Anybody ever had a similar issue? Should I just wait for the car to dry out and try again? Or just bite the bullet and have it towed in for repair? Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

Pac996

All I can think of is check and see if you have water getting past the seals under the hood in front and in the engine compartment. With that amont of errors I'd think it's a connector. Have you added anything electrical lately? Verify connections on sockets and look for water near the fuse box. Do not clean any white stuff off of plugs and sockets, its to keep water out and preserves metal contacts. Actually not sure where the ECU is but I think its in front so make sure it isn't getting flooded.

C4CRNA

Check front drains up near battery. They can allow the brake booster to be flooded
Also you could be overwhelming the air box if it is really pouring.

ivangene

coil packs could be cracked

+1 for check in the battery area and every where else for water, but my guess is the coil packs

pongobaz

+1 for cracked coil packs.

gota911

+2 for cracked coil packs.

ROK

replace them with 997 coil packs.

C4CRNA

Were you driving it it the rain or had you just started it when the trouble occured?

4Scargo

Um, might look at the coil............nevermind

Meister Fahrer

Yeah this rain has been crazy all week, mine is tucked away in the garage.

Coil packs are often slightly cracked, which is not a problem until water gets up in there.

Do you have it parked somewhere?
It's supposed to dry out tomorrow (Sat), maybe the problem will solve itself, wouldn't that be nice.

Good luck.

ghostwriter11

Thanks for the advice.

I left it parked (at my office) all day today. Will try it again tomorrow, which is supposed to be relatively dry also.

I'll have the coil packs looked at. Just hope I can drive to the shop and not have to have it towed.

nc911

Spray WD40 on the coil packs to see if that help driveability to the shop.

C4CRNA

Did it dry out yet? Could you start and drive the car?

redridge

coil pacs?..... man these guys are getting good..... might want to check psm sensors as well.

C4CRNA

Brake booster?