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YOUR RESEARCHWashed car; won't start - something must have gotten wet
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Replace fuse and she started right up
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Washed car; won't start - something must have gotten wet
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Leading evidence: 'Replace fuse and she started right up' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check error codes' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Van....when I did the thorough engine wash I used my leaf blower.
Washed car; won't start - something must have gotten wet
Check error codes
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Washed car; won't start - something must have gotten wet
Clean engine bay
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Washed car; won't start - something must have gotten wet
Replace sensor's resistance...)
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Suggestion · Original poster
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...)
Washed car; won't start - something must have gotten wet
Replace sensor's resistance...)
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Suggestion · Original poster
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...)
Washed car; won't start - something must have gotten wet
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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.
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?
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).
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!
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!
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!
and I thought WD stood for Welcoming Dirt.
(just kidding
)
WD40 is great but it does attract a ton of dirt- not so good to spray all over
the engine bay, unless some wire is not contacting properly- it will not help
in a short, actually it could even cause one.
John
never seen WD40 cause a short - either on low voltage or on the high voltage side
As for attracting dirt - that rather depends on how you clean-up your engine!
As a method of displacing water from electrical connectors on cars, it's hard to beat for speed, and reliability.
Of course it won't mend a blown fuse - but hey, why did that fuse blow in the first place?
Just keep that WD-40 away from painted surfaces or anything that is glossy and you want to keep that way. And if the spray falls on the paint don't just wipe but wash thoroughly... Learned this the hard way and fortunately not on my P-car!
Um... metal fatigue?
Could some connector have gotten wet and caused a short condition as soon as I applied power? That caused the fuse to blow, then the engine cranked and cranked without starting.
I've hosed down the engine compartment before without having a problem... but never have I hosed it down this thoroughly... I really wanted to get all of the salt out! I aimed that hose nozzle up and down and sideways in every nook and cranny I could find. I easily got 25% of the engine wet.
I said "it could cause a short" if a short circuit is just about to occur; WD40 is
a conductor, so it could complete a short circuit, IF the condition already exists.
Yes, water on a connection could cause a short as long as the water bridges between something. The engine bay connectors should have a rubber boot or plastic water tight connector though.
Fuses sometimes blow because they're old, but very rarely. I have had a lot of old cars and almost always find a short when there is a blown fuse.
Given the order of events, it's likely that washing the engine caused a short, however, it may or may not be water that caused the short. i.e. something may have moved or loosened during the act of washing, or from the water.
Retrace your steps, or just wait and see if it blows again.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
