STARTING PROBLEMS AFTER RAIN / CARWASH

[viron2112]

I need some advice.

Last week, my 91' MkII struggled to start at the end of the night (it was raining) and the jouney home felt like I was running on 3 plugs. At traffic lights, the rev counter was sitting at about 800 / 900. BUT... the next morning (on the way to buy plugs!) it seemed fine! So I forgot all about it. Now.. a week later, I have just returned from the carwash, where during the wash (a hand wash then hose down), the revs slowed down and cut out. After the wash, it wouldn't start, or even push start. Got a jump start and on the way home, it went from the 'seems like 3 plugs' mode' slowly towards normality as it dried out.

Thing is, the gaps in the engine cover are not over the plugs.

Does anyone know what this problem is and what I can do?

[SwissHeavy]

I have a misfire problem sometimes after it's rained over night. I strongly suspect it to be the distributor cap and will replace it on the next service. Water can easily get to that. Hope that helps.

Josh

[viron2112]

I have a misfire problem sometimes after it's rained over night. I strongly suspect it to be the distributor cap and will replace it on the next service. Water can easily get to that. Hope that helps.

Josh

Cheers for that. I'm just in from replacing the plugs.

Dis caps were all spotless, apart from number 4, which after I took the cap off, saw alot of light blue semi-solidified powder inside the distributor part (not cap). A little came out with a cotton bud but I'm not sure how to get the rest out. How much are actual new distributors?

I'm hoping that's what the problem has been and not just an additional one.

[SwissHeavy]

From what I heard it's the rubber seals that degrade and let water in. You can get them from Rogue as well as numerous other places...

http://www.roguemotorsport.com/forms/Pr ... spx?ID=346

Josh

[blue2]

Had this same problem exactly. What you need to do is replace the distributor cap. Then buy some heat proof/water proof gaffer tape (about£4) and tape around the distributor cap (specifically the joint where the cap meets the distributor), I also taped up any loose connections also.
Do this and your problem will be solved!

[Andy Champ]

saw alot of light blue semi-solidified powder

That's copper oxide. Or hydroxide or something.... like rust, only copper, from your wires.

Andy

[viron2112]

Cheers for the link Josh.

So would the distributor problem be the cause of the car cutting out when wet?

[Draven]

I had this exact problem when i first owned my pride and joy.. After much looking it turned out to be..

A coolant sensor. It was bust the car would start fine in good weather but if it rained or was cold it wouldn't start. If you turn it over 7 - 10 times if would eventually start.. Changed coolant sensor.. It fired up first time.

Good luck

[darkmagi]

I had the same problems as you did, I tried everything, I changed the leads,dizzy cap & the spark plugs but it still happened, I then sprayed WD40 over all the electrical connectors around the engine but it still happened si i sprayed the coil & its been fine ever since even when its been raining heavy, I read that sometimes the coil gets a small crack in its case & this can let the damp in, This may be what is happening to your car.

P.S. Make sure you use WD40 as i used cheap rubbish i borrowed from my work & it did no good at all until i used WD40.


Hope this helps...........

[darkmagi]

I had the same problems as you did, I tried everything, I changed the leads,dizzy cap & the spark plugs but it still happened, I then sprayed WD40 over all the electrical connectors around the engine but it still happened so i sprayed the coil & its been fine ever since even when its been raining heavy, I read that sometimes the coil gets a small crack in its case & this can let the damp in, This may be what is happening to your car.

P.S. Make sure you use WD40 as i used cheap rubbish i borrowed from my work & it did no good at all until i used WD40.


Hope this helps...........

[blue2]

I did this too then resorted to some good quality gaffer tape which works perfectly. Its due to moisture getting through as the engine is pretty exposed