Cleaned engine...No start

[turqfest]

So I may just be the fool of the day today.

I used foamy engine cleaner on the Festy to try to remove some built up sludge. Warmed the engine up until the valve cover was was to the touch, sprayed it on, hosed it off after about 15 minutes with a light stream of water.
The car started right up but was running very rough. Drove it back home, didn't stall but sounded bad. Went inside ate dinner, went out after I ate to start it and all I was getting was cranking but no starting. A ha! seemed to remember the water in the dist. problem that many have spoke of here, dried the cap and rotor put 'em back on and no improvement. Checked the battery after I'd let the thing sit for around 20 minutes with no cranking, and I was getting 12.9 volts.

Any ideas here on what I just did to my car? Help is appreciated as I need it to drive to school this week!

[GenevaDirt]

need to also check the wires....they get wet and the spark could be going everywhere. If you crank it at night you can tell if the spark is jumping all over. Check the coil...and make sure you are still getting spark. Good luck.

[Levitan]

Yep, what Willie said!!

I would further add. Grab a can of WD-40. Remove the cap again, spray the cap and the distributor. Install the cap. Remove one end of one wire at a time and spray with WD-40. Remove coil wire, one end at a time and spray with Wd-40.

Let me rephrase this. If I got my engine compartment wet, which I have. The above is what I would do and have done successfully in the past. Not telling you to do it in case something were to go wrong.

[elcamino1]

^^Yep do what he said!

[leapin]

^^Yeah what they said!

[Pu241]

If you determine that the wires are at fault and you can't remember when you last replaced them, get a new set.
My thoughts are that the outer casing has broke down and moisture can now get into the wires and is keeping them from carrying the voltage to the spark plugs.
A new set will run about $20 and will likely help your care run better than before.
For a little more a Lifetime warrantied set can be had and you can replace them every few years.

[WmWatt]

Cheaper than WD-40 to wipe the cap and wires with a clean rag. I do that a couple times a year when the timing sounds a bit off.

[GenevaDirt]

^^can't wipe away water that has penetrated the rubber....need to displace it and WD40 will do that....same with wire dryer...which I have had better luck with then WD40

[SIBladerunner]

you probably got the VAF connector soaked. It controls alot, from how much fuel to deliver to the fuel pump even running.

[miami man]

yes check the vaf connectorand wiring because it is often over looked.

[bhazard]

Am I the only one that has pressure washed the engine and engine bay of every car I have been in possession of and never had a problem?

[collegeboi]

^ You probably are one of the few that covers the distributor cap?

[jglutz]

The internals of the dist cap are notorious for gunking up even without washing the engine. I washed the engine once and the car died two days later form gunk.

Wet ignition wires....put them in a small pillow case and throw them in the laundry dryer for a bit.

[turqfest]

I am now a firm believer in water displacement forty.
After previously drying with just a rag, I once again removed the cap gave the cap a light misting with the wd as well as the rotor as suggested and wiped up the excess. Turned the key and BINGO!

Proceeded to go for a drive, all was good then I noticed my gauge lights flicking upon braking. Pulled into a parking lot checked all fuses including underhood. Shut the hood attempted to start and nothing no dash lights...great. Noticed the headlights worked.
Open the hood back up pull the two blue and one pink fusible link replacements and the pink one falls out like a loose tooth! :p

I'm thinking I need to shave down the a little of the brown plastic so that the fuse sits a little deeper in the holder - I thought I saw a post about that somewhere...

[Pu241]

I'm thinking I need to shave down the a little of the brown plastic so that the fuse sits a little deeper in the holder - I thought I saw a post about that somewhere...

You probably can, but best is to get the cartridge fuses with the "long" legs.
You must have the short one's and they just do not fit properly!
See if I can find a pic!
Thanks for letting use know what happened.
Many times we never hear, good or bad, what happened!
I have more than a few spares if you want PM me and I'll send you a set!