Washed my engine, now there is a problem.

SuperDuperDaewoo · Post by **SuperDuperDaewoo** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 12:41 am

I have a 2002 Daewoo Lanos.

I have washed my engine bay numerous times, and never covered anything. But on Saturday, I washed my engine. Afterwards, when I went to start my car the engine will start to turn, but not start. After keeping the key turned the engine will eventually (struggle to) start, but once running, it will run fine. It sometimes takes up to a minute to turn on the car.

I have Magnecor 8.5mm Plug Wires (replaced stock within the last 6,000 miles) , and NKG G-Power Plugs (replaced within the last 18,000 miles). It also has a 2 1/4" cat-back exhaust. The car itself has 51,000 miles on it.

If someone could please diagnose this problem I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you and have a great day!

GsiTurbo · Post by **GsiTurbo** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 1:05 am

You got some water in some of the connectors. Most likely spark plug wires. Use some WD-40, disconnect cables, and spray WD-40 onto terminals. This will get rid of the water.

Hope this helps.

Tom

BosnianLanos · Post by **BosnianLanos** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 1:10 am

If the problem occurred just once or twice, then it is water in the connectors and it should already have evaporated from the heat of the engine. If it is a reoccuring problem, then it might be a shorted out battery. Get a volt meter and check or jump it to see if the car turns on easier with a jump start.

tango · Post by **tango** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 2:39 am

A buddy of mine has a 2.2L Aussie spec Leganza. He washed his engine one Sunday afternoon. I WARNED him not to do it and he just wouldn't listen. Needless to say he ended up with SEVERE misfires. Water had accumulated inside the spark plug chambers and was shorting the wires. He consequently lost the plug wires as the shorting out ruined them. Sort out that problem by removing the water from the chambers as soon as possible. Don't continue to run the car, thinking that it will eventually evaporate. The bad grounding of the wires can hurt your ignition coil, or worse, your ECU.

Fact is NO manufacturer recommends engines be washed. The engine should be WIPED clean. I normally apply degreaser, then water with a spray bottle...NEVER a hose. Always remember these laws of Physics:

~ electricity and water don't mix

~ there is no such thing as a perfect seal

~ there is no such thing as perfect insulation

~ if anything can possibly go wrong it will (okay, so that's Murphy's Law but it IS true!)

Put these 4 together and you have disaster waiting to happen!

woo · Post by **woo** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 3:25 am

tango wrote: ~ if anything can possibly go wrong it will (okay, so that's Murphy's Law but it IS true!)

my mechanic called today. When he was driving my car to see what was wrong with the trans, my timing belt snapped. NOW IM PISSDED OFF
i had the tensioners replaces last december and the timing belt done at 60 thousand k's. the car now has 104 thousand k's. It looks like it may be a new car for me

kinkyllama · Post by **kinkyllama** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:01 am

Where in AZ do you live superduperdaewoo? or have we gone over this? I cant keep track...

daftmajin · Post by **daftmajin** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 11:00 pm

You might have cracked your ignition coil. When washing the engine make sure the engine temp is not too hot and that the ignition coil is covered.

MMamdouh · Post by **MMamdouh** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 2:04 pm

most people gave me hard time for washing my engine... i can't drive a dirty car.

i have been doing that for the past 6.5 years and no problems... maybe once or twice got trouble starting the car but it is still running fine.

the poeople at the gas station uses karosen firs to wash the engine and remove any oil or greas stains and making a water proof film on the engine.

next thing they use water/soap mixture and a rag to wash it and get rid of the extra karosin, then copressed air is used to remove all the water... needless to say that during the process the coil pack, engine harness sockets are protected with plastic bags and no high pressure water is used whatsoever.

the ebgine is clean as hell after such a wash and almost looks like a brand new car in a show room... i will post a pic when i was mine, it was 6 months since i last did that.

MMamdouh

BosnianLanos · Post by **BosnianLanos** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 2:51 pm

I've never washed my engine. Almost 7 years and 190,000 miles and never once have I washed it. I had to scrape off about an inch of solidified oil buildup of the transmission just to find the metal. It is dismal. I can't wait to wash it, but right now it is 95F outside with 100% humidity making it like 110F. So, it will have to wait until the fall.