4A-GE MK1 Engine Will not start after engine wash :(

is_tech · 09-27-2008, 04:09 PM

I decided to wash my engine today.
After reading the forums out here that say to be careful around the top of the engine where the spark plug wires are.
I sprayed degreaser on the engine, the rinsed it of, but I was not careful like I should have been. I also got my spongy air filter pretty wet. I then started it and drove it around the block to put it back in the garage. The whole time I had it running, it was sputtering, and would not rev very high. I kept forcing it to rev by holding the pedal down until it finllay made it to high rpms. I got it to the garage, and it kept dying on me when trying to go up the driveway. There was also a decent amount of smoke pouriung from out of the right rear wheel well. A few minutes after that, I tried to start it, but it would not start. It turns over, and every once in a while kinda put out a small backfire. I then pulled the plug wires off and sure enough, there was water sitting in there almost to the top of the plugs. My shop vac fit down in there, so I was able to get all of the water out. I also pulled my cold air tube off and installed a dry filter onto the MAF, but it still will not start.
I am going to let it sit overnight, then try starting it again tomorrow.
Any ideas?

is_tech · 09-27-2008, 06:46 PM

I just tried starting it again.
I started and barely ran for a few seconds, then died again.
I'm hoping, and appears that it just needs to dry out.

mr2silvertop · 09-27-2008, 06:54 PM

take ur distributor cap off too.You probably have water in there too.

MR2noobiii · 09-27-2008, 06:57 PM

ya dry out your distributer and the sparks

is_tech · 09-27-2008, 07:00 PM

doh!
I will give that a try.
ok, cool, thanks!

is_tech · 09-28-2008, 09:15 PM

Ok.
I pulled the distributor cap and blew the distributor out with my compressor.
A little water came out, and after replacing the cap, it did start and run a litle longer this time (maybe 10-15 seconds), but then died again. It is getting better, just probably needs to completely dry out again.
I went ahead and pulled the cap again, sprayed some WD-40 up in the distributor, and am going to leave the cap off overnight to let it completely dry out, then will try replacing the cap and starting it again tomorrow.

datguydeni · 09-28-2008, 10:43 PM

get a blow drywer and start drying. i was planning to wash the engine bay the other day but i was too lazy lol. cause i was scared something like that would happen. gl to you

muffinman · 09-29-2008, 10:52 AM

There is water in the spark plug valley

muffinman · 09-29-2008, 11:14 AM

Take the cover off of the spark plug valley and i bet it's full of water, which will cause your spark plugs to short out. Drain the water out and it will be fine.

is_tech · 09-29-2008, 11:20 AM

I then pulled the plug wires off and sure enough, there was water sitting in there almost to the top of the plugs. My shop vac fit down in there, so I was able to get all of the water out.

is_tech · 09-29-2008, 12:04 PM

F.Y.I.
I had also pulled the plugs and sanded / cleaned them up real good.

mr2silvertop · 09-29-2008, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muffinman

There is water in the spark plug valley

He mentioned that he did that in the first post. Read b4 replying.

Your afm might be full of water as well, given that it will run for a bit and shutoff.

is_tech · 09-29-2008, 12:26 PM

When I pulled the filter that I got pretty wet, I looked in there, and it did not appear to be. But like I said, it is getting alot better in that it is running longer each time I try starting it.

is_tech · 09-30-2008, 11:47 AM

Well, I pulled the cap off of the top of the MAF, and blew it out, put it back together, and it started right up.
Thanks for everyone’s help!

lsgheero · 10-21-2008, 06:39 PM

Im glad you got it running again, for future reference cover any electrical and any filters prior to doing that.

iceNine · 02-02-2009, 01:01 PM

Most people that own these cars try to wash their engine. They generally only try this once. After I got water in the spark plug wells and had to take two or three hours sucking it out and drying off the plugs I really decided that a dirty engine on the outside wasn't really so bad.

randomxzero · 02-02-2009, 01:04 PM

theresnothing wrong with a dirty engine

boro boro!!

fvillota · 02-02-2009, 03:22 PM

haha yea. this happened to me the 1st time.now if im going to clean it i make sure i steer clear of the sparks and the dizzy
lol
takes me a lil longer to clean but it'll take me longer to dry it out then avoid the spots lol

lepichichi · 04-27-2009, 04:42 PM

same thing happened to my earlier i pulled the wires out and cleaned the valley im letting dry now and hopefully it will come back to life

muffinman · 04-27-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lepichichi

same thing happened to my earlier i pulled the wires out and cleaned the valley im letting dry now and hopefully it will come back to life

I think we have all done it at least once.

09-27-2008, 04:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
is_tech Work in Progress Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 93 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Will not start after engine wash :( I decided to wash my engine today. After reading the forums out here that say to be careful around the top of the engine where the spark plug wires are. I sprayed degreaser on the engine, the rinsed it of, but I was not careful like I should have been. I also got my spongy air filter pretty wet. I then started it and drove it around the block to put it back in the garage. The whole time I had it running, it was sputtering, and would not rev very high. I kept forcing it to rev by holding the pedal down until it finllay made it to high rpms. I got it to the garage, and it kept dying on me when trying to go up the driveway. There was also a decent amount of smoke pouriung from out of the right rear wheel well. A few minutes after that, I tried to start it, but it would not start. It turns over, and every once in a while kinda put out a small backfire. I then pulled the plug wires off and sure enough, there was water sitting in there almost to the top of the plugs. My shop vac fit down in there, so I was able to get all of the water out. I also pulled my cold air tube off and installed a dry filter onto the MAF, but it still will not start. I am going to let it sit overnight, then try starting it again tomorrow. Any ideas?

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09-27-2008, 06:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
is_tech Work in Progress Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 93 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I just tried starting it again. I started and barely ran for a few seconds, then died again. I'm hoping, and appears that it just needs to dry out.

09-27-2008, 06:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
mr2silvertop the guy w/da mr2 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: dallas,georgia Posts: 183 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	take ur distributor cap off too.You probably have water in there too.

09-27-2008, 06:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
MR2noobiii Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 505 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	ya dry out your distributer and the sparks

09-27-2008, 07:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
is_tech Work in Progress Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 93 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	doh! I will give that a try. ok, cool, thanks!

09-28-2008, 09:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
is_tech Work in Progress Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 93 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Ok. I pulled the distributor cap and blew the distributor out with my compressor. A little water came out, and after replacing the cap, it did start and run a litle longer this time (maybe 10-15 seconds), but then died again. It is getting better, just probably needs to completely dry out again. I went ahead and pulled the cap again, sprayed some WD-40 up in the distributor, and am going to leave the cap off overnight to let it completely dry out, then will try replacing the cap and starting it again tomorrow.

09-28-2008, 10:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
datguydeni Turquoise not Teal Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 1,492 Thanks: 3 Thanked 25 Times in 22 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	get a blow drywer and start drying. i was planning to wash the engine bay the other day but i was too lazy lol. cause i was scared something like that would happen. gl to you

09-29-2008, 10:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
muffinman U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 5,880 Thanks: 53 Thanked 283 Times in 272 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	There is water in the spark plug valley

09-29-2008, 11:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
muffinman U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 5,880 Thanks: 53 Thanked 283 Times in 272 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Take the cover off of the spark plug valley and i bet it's full of water, which will cause your spark plugs to short out. Drain the water out and it will be fine.

09-29-2008, 11:20 AM	#10 (permalink)
is_tech Work in Progress Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 93 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I then pulled the plug wires off and sure enough, there was water sitting in there almost to the top of the plugs. My shop vac fit down in there, so I was able to get all of the water out.

09-29-2008, 12:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
is_tech Work in Progress Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 93 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	F.Y.I. I had also pulled the plugs and sanded / cleaned them up real good.

09-29-2008, 12:26 PM	#13 (permalink)
is_tech Work in Progress Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 93 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	When I pulled the filter that I got pretty wet, I looked in there, and it did not appear to be. But like I said, it is getting alot better in that it is running longer each time I try starting it.

09-30-2008, 11:47 AM	#14 (permalink)
is_tech Work in Progress Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 93 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Well, I pulled the cap off of the top of the MAF, and blew it out, put it back together, and it started right up. Thanks for everyone’s help!

10-21-2008, 06:39 PM	#15 (permalink)
lsgheero RAR! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 747 Thanks: 9 Thanked 31 Times in 31 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Im glad you got it running again, for future reference cover any electrical and any filters prior to doing that.

02-02-2009, 01:01 PM	#16 (permalink)
iceNine Some Skills Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland USA Posts: 61 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Most people that own these cars try to wash their engine. They generally only try this once. After I got water in the spark plug wells and had to take two or three hours sucking it out and drying off the plugs I really decided that a dirty engine on the outside wasn't really so bad.

02-02-2009, 01:04 PM	#17 (permalink)
randomxzero 562 Understeer Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: 562 Posts: 1,171 Thanks: 10 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	theresnothing wrong with a dirty engine boro boro!!

02-02-2009, 03:22 PM	#18 (permalink)
fvillota Did you just press that? Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miami Posts: 2,539 Thanks: 73 Thanked 52 Times in 52 Posts iTrader Rating: (11/100% )	haha yea. this happened to me the 1st time.now if im going to clean it i make sure i steer clear of the sparks and the dizzy lol takes me a lil longer to clean but it'll take me longer to dry it out then avoid the spots lol

04-27-2009, 04:42 PM	#19 (permalink)
lepichichi No Skills Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 45 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	same thing happened to my earlier i pulled the wires out and cleaned the valley im letting dry now and hopefully it will come back to life