Nova_Dust

On Sunday, I cleaned my engine bay. I covered up battery, air intake tube and distributor. Washed the bay a bit cause I ran out of Gunk. I then concentrated on the valve cover (B20B) because it was extra dirty in that area.

I then filled that part of the valve cover with water until it over flows, then water ran out from the distributor side. I did that for one time but saw some grease still, and did it again.

I started the car and let it idel, then drove it inside the garage, everything was fine. This afternoon (Monday), I pulled it out and it was fine. Drove for about 20KMs with a friend for a coffee, it was fine still.

Just before we left, I started the car and it sounded weird. It was bogging, and every so often, the exhaust would sorta "explode" and made a loud sound, then the car continued to bog. I didn't think much. Then we left the place and head home, that's when I noticed problem.

Car would accelerate but really slow (stock B20B), sounded like a truck and it was bogging all the time. Sometimes, it even felt a lost of power for a brief moment and then caught up. You could say the car was jerking, alot.

To best describe it, it sounded like a Harley Davidson.

I then thought about the water incident I had yesterday, and quickly changed engine oil. But it did no help, still sounded like a Harley Davidson.

What could have been the cause of this? Did water actually get into the spark plug hole cause I flooded that entire area? Is this some type of "hydro-locking"

I am frustrated, and felt stupid. Can anyone shine some light on this issue and give me a hand? Much appreciated.

chris_si98

its not hydro lock.. when your car h/l it shuts off

you are backfiring.. you got water in your dist. cap.. i assume so you are getting a weak to no spark. Open it up and see how it looks. It may be your wires too.. if they get soaked the are garbage

Nova_Dust

So the dist. cap, I will do that tomorrow afterwork, any signs I should be looking for? Thanks Chris

89SIHATCH?

by tomorrow it should be fine.

water built up at the plugs/wire connection.
(pull wires and blow out)

Xscorpio

yea charles, how long did you let it sit after washing?

i did mine but last year, and i let it sit for 3 hrs unlit all the water is gone/dried out. and car ran fine.

and i never covered anything, i usually do this:
i just lightly spray with water, junk it and let is sit for 15 mins, rub&scrub, and spray it again.

it should run fine tomorrow, because there might still be some water build up left over.

good luck bro!

chris_si98

not really.. just moisture build up.. make sure its nice and dry

Nova_Dust

The car was in the garage for one night before I drove it again the next day. I didn't drive it today to work, but will check the distributor cap and all the wires tonight.

Hopefully this is a small issue.

imported_starboy869

Why did you cover your battery when you washed your engine bay?

At work we use a power washer straight on the batteries.

imported_Moe_Mentum

Hey Nova I wouldn't worry to much, the exact same problem happened to me after I ran water of the valve cover. For me I took out each spark plug boot and dried them off. I found moisture on the boots inside the spark plug clylinders which caused my bogging. So give that a shot. I

Nova_Dust

haha I don't know, that's what I have been told.

Nova_Dust

Cool, I think I have a very minor problem after hearing all these solutions. Quite a relief. Can't wait to go home and get that sucker to run good again.

Because of this, I am missing a baseball game tonight.

chris_si98

ya but do you d/c the cables first?

the proper way to wash the batt. is baking soda and water.. it neutralizes the electro-lite

Nova_Dust

Tonight, I took out the spark plugs, and the plug wires as well the rotor cap. There were condensation around the plug rubber, spark plug chamber and the spark plugs were dirty. The rotor cap was fine, very dry.

I cleaned the chamber, the wire and the spark plugs, started the car and it went back to where it was before. I did heard a tiny little backfire just after the drive. Regardless, maybe I should change the spark plugs, and the wires and whatnot.

Thank you all for your help. Deeply appreciated. (that includes you Mike)

chris_si98

drive for a day or two.. see if it stops.

wires arent cheap man. I wouldnt worry about the plugs unless they got soaked..

imported_starboy869

oh yes I forgot the baking soda part. I haven't washed batteries since Oct or Nov of last year.


If your still getting backfire then I would look into your sparkplugs and wires first.
I would make sure your sp and wires are fully dry.

My buddy saysTry this:

1. Get a spray bottle of water
2. Wait till it's dark out
3. Start car with hood open
4. While standing back a bit Spray a mist over your Sparkplug wires
5. Hopefully you don't see a spark show
If you do then you need new wires.

I personally haven't tried this before.

Nova_Dust

^ That sounds like a trick

Capo

good way to test for "leaking" spark plug wires, you can also do this during the day you just need to look closer.

Xscorpio

^^^ and 'pop', one of the eye ball is gone no?

imported_Cablerat

Actually you can do it during the day.. the car idle will fluctuate if you have a break in your wires and you spray water onto it.

RDub99

iTrader: (1)

does your car seem alright now charles?