Problems in the rain
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Problems in the rain
Ever since I had my headers, plugs, wires put on, my car runs TERRIBLE in the rain. It shakes and doesnt accelerate correctly, if at all. My SES light flashes, then stays on for about a day after the rain. What is going on? I tried to search, but couldnt find anything on it. This only happens when it rains, is it o2 related? plugs? wires? open for opinions and suggestions.
Thanks,
David
Thanks,
David
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HMMM. I would think it could possibly be an O2 sensor bung issue. If the headers had to have a bung installed, it could have a leak...and I guess water could be getting in. That is a little far fetched if you aske me, but I wouldnt put it out of your mind. I would wait till it happens again, and go to PepBoys and get a scan when your light is on. As for the flashing ses, I think that idicates another issue. Hopefully someone else can give more insight on that.
Fry
Fry
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I say check to see if you are getting water on the engine, flashing SES light ususally means a hard miss. You could be getting water on the coils or somewhere on the ignition system.Is the hood to cowl seal still there? Or, maybe you have a bad set of wires, with the car running, spray the wires with water from a spray bottle, if they are bad, you should see all kinds of arcing.
Last edited by psykoTa; 10-11-2004 at 11:51 PM.
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Originally Posted by psykoTa
Did you find what is wrong?
david
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Did they check the ignition system? Flashing SES lights are ignition misses, it flashes because it is something that can damage your cats. Did you try misting the wires w/water? Have you checked for any burnt wires?
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Originally Posted by psykoTa
Did they check the ignition system? Flashing SES lights are ignition misses, it flashes because it is something that can damage your cats. Did you try misting the wires w/water? Have you checked for any burnt wires?
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thats the strangest thing ive ever heard of, doest it do it in light rain or heavy rain, or just any bit of rain, and what about if its dry and u run over a puddle, im just trying to think of your situation
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Originally Posted by LiqudFire350
thats the strangest thing ive ever heard of, doest it do it in light rain or heavy rain, or just any bit of rain, and what about if its dry and u run over a puddle, im just trying to think of your situation
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I would suspect an insulation problem most likely.
First I would run the car at night in the dark, looking
for any small arcs about the plugs, wires and coils;
arcs that would get worse when wet. Might even probe
around with a screwdriver that is clip-grounded to the
block, see if you can make a miss.
You could go as far as selectively misting areas of the
ignition system with a spray-bottle.
Dielectric grease inside each of the wire boots would
help eliminate water intrusion and any spark-snuffing
from that, at the plug and coil ends. Might check for
any plugs that are cracked and just hanging on by
the conductor. Also check the seating of the wires
onto the plugs, I had one Taylor pop off on mine and
it ran crappy only after high speed buffeting shook it
the last little bit loose. Pull, grease, reseat and you
may just find it goes away even if you don't "find"
anything.
First I would run the car at night in the dark, looking
for any small arcs about the plugs, wires and coils;
arcs that would get worse when wet. Might even probe
around with a screwdriver that is clip-grounded to the
block, see if you can make a miss.
You could go as far as selectively misting areas of the
ignition system with a spray-bottle.
Dielectric grease inside each of the wire boots would
help eliminate water intrusion and any spark-snuffing
from that, at the plug and coil ends. Might check for
any plugs that are cracked and just hanging on by
the conductor. Also check the seating of the wires
onto the plugs, I had one Taylor pop off on mine and
it ran crappy only after high speed buffeting shook it
the last little bit loose. Pull, grease, reseat and you
may just find it goes away even if you don't "find"
anything.
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My car does the exact same. I have a 3" cowl hood, and it started after I put it on the car. It started only when it rained but now it does it driving in town. When it rains its horrible, it comparable to driving a 4 banger only on two cylinders. I get the ses light and when I check it, it says multiple misfire. I want t get new plug wires, but unsure of which one's to get,Any help on what I should get or do.
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ive actually tested the wires, the black ones had a little least resistance than the red ones and the taylor and mallory ones were the worst ones( i think a straightened paper clip would have had less resistance than those wires)
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Originally Posted by camarodave98
Ever since I had my headers, plugs, wires put on, my car runs TERRIBLE in the rain. It shakes and doesnt accelerate correctly, if at all. My SES light flashes, then stays on for about a day after the rain. What is going on? I tried to search, but couldnt find anything on it. This only happens when it rains, is it o2 related? plugs? wires? open for opinions and suggestions.
Thanks,
David
Thanks,
David
#17
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This post seems to be dead now. I do have a cowl hood ( about a 3" cowl hood) and its open for water to get into my engine bay. Any idea's, maybe water getting into O2 sensors, or getting on coils and wires. Or possibly something else? Let me hear your opinions or if u have this problem, post what u did if you fixed it.
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You cant get water on the O2's. Unless you are in a 3 foot puddle, with an exhuast leak next to the O2. Everyone that has this problem, has a cowl hood, or someway for water to get on the engine. I dont know why noone has tried this-start the car, pop the hood, dot his at night, use a spray bottle and mist the wires and coils, you will probably see some arcing. The fact is, water is getting on the engine somehow and causing multiple misfires=ignition. Water is getting on the A. wires B. coils C. all over the place. Do what I said see what happens. Or put a stock hood back on, and see what happens.
I highly doubt water is getting on the MAF, water is heavier then air. You need a lot of water to get on the MAF. And water on the O2's=not possible, unless something is broken. Everything under the hood is meant to be sealed and water proof. However, the spark from the ignition system will travel through the path of least resistance, i.e water on the wire. Sparks can even "jump" to a vacuum line if its resting parallel, on the spark plug wire. Thats not your problem, just showing that a spark will travel to other places if something is touching it, etc.
I highly doubt water is getting on the MAF, water is heavier then air. You need a lot of water to get on the MAF. And water on the O2's=not possible, unless something is broken. Everything under the hood is meant to be sealed and water proof. However, the spark from the ignition system will travel through the path of least resistance, i.e water on the wire. Sparks can even "jump" to a vacuum line if its resting parallel, on the spark plug wire. Thats not your problem, just showing that a spark will travel to other places if something is touching it, etc.