Start there. 99% chance that's what is wrong. Blow out the spark-plug wells with compressed air when you pull the plug wires. DO NOT pull your plugs.Originally Posted by CosmosMpower
Car sputtering/running bad, ideas?
I powerwashed the engine bay lightly last night while washing the car, didn't cover the spark plugs but I didn't really spray in that general vicinity. Was mostly trying to get the front of the valve cover/intake manifold area clean. Car seemed to be sputtering and idling a little funny afterwards and I figured it might have just gotten something a bit wet.
Took it out for a 10 min drive and all was well. This morning I turned the car on and it started sputtering and feeling like it was losing power. I got on the highway and it wouldn't accelerate WOT but would speed up at 3/4 throttle. After about 5 mins everything seemed to go back to normal. Just got to work so I'm not sure if there was some leftover residual water. Any ideas on what to check beyond pulling the plug wires/coil packs/spark plugs if it keeps running bad later?
VW Bug in running shoes
M Porcupine sedan
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Crusty old e46 beater
Battery Powered appliance car
Start there. 99% chance that's what is wrong. Blow out the spark-plug wells with compressed air when you pull the plug wires. DO NOT pull your plugs.
Gotcha, I highly doubt any water got down into the wells but you never know. I'm hoping when I get in to drive home this afternoon everything will be 100% normal. Besides being TCB I'm also TLB (Team Lazy Bastard).
VW Bug in running shoes
M Porcupine sedan
M Porcupine coupe
Crusty old e46 beater
Battery Powered appliance car
Those spark plug boots aren't water tight. Trust me.(Pull them off the coil and dry those ends off too)
+1 Been there, done that...Those spark plug boots aren't water tight. Trust me.
Agreed... let those suckers air out!Those spark plug boots aren't water tight. Trust me.
'94 Black & Black & Tan
'99 head swap, JR header, TDR intake & header blanket, MegaSquirt, RB hollow bar, Tein Flex, 15x8 6ULs, HD M2 Sport, FM cat, Borla cat-back, black '95M interior, MOMO Zebrano, IL Motorsport console...
Dyno Days
8/16/08 (bone stock): 103.1 hp/99.0 lb-ft - Dynojet
8/23/08 (Borla cat-back): 108.2 hp/104.1 lb-ft - Dynojet
8/13/11 (more stuff...): 126 hp/116 lb-ft - Mustang dyno
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Maybe I should go pull them now and let them dry out all day. You would think the residual heat from the engine would dry everything out pretty quickly but I guess not.
VW Bug in running shoes
M Porcupine sedan
M Porcupine coupe
Crusty old e46 beater
Battery Powered appliance car
You bet... that water needs a place to escape. Take the plug wires off and it'll be dry by lunch time.
'94 Black & Black & Tan
'99 head swap, JR header, TDR intake & header blanket, MegaSquirt, RB hollow bar, Tein Flex, 15x8 6ULs, HD M2 Sport, FM cat, Borla cat-back, black '95M interior, MOMO Zebrano, IL Motorsport console...
Dyno Days
8/16/08 (bone stock): 103.1 hp/99.0 lb-ft - Dynojet
8/23/08 (Borla cat-back): 108.2 hp/104.1 lb-ft - Dynojet
8/13/11 (more stuff...): 126 hp/116 lb-ft - Mustang dyno
Roger Moore: the Danny White of James Bonds
I had the same issue. Mine ran fine immediately after washing the engine, but sputtered the next day.
Same thing the wife's car did to me, when she got home you could see the water in the wells... Oppps my bad.
What was the resolution?
VW Bug in running shoes
M Porcupine sedan
M Porcupine coupe
Crusty old e46 beater
Battery Powered appliance car
There's water in the plug holes. Thread over. Next!
Maybe 4 wheels aren't so bad after all... wickett.org
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