Rough idle after car wash

mrsmith · 03-01-2015, 04:43 PM

Hey guys, I took my car through a car wash a couple of times in the last 3 weeks. After the wash, I go home turn the car off. When I turn the car back on (no matter how long it's been after turning it off) the car RPMs barely get past 750 and then go below 500 for a couple of minutes and the idle is rough. It then snaps out of it and is completely fine. This happens maybe 2 or 3 times after every time I take it through a wash but then it never happens again until I take it through the wash again. Any thoughts on why this could be happening?

Also, I just installed Stillen G3 intakes a couple of days ago and i'm not sure if they are car wash friendly

370Z JT · 03-01-2015, 05:09 PM

Clean MAF sensors.

Aviator44 · 03-01-2015, 07:42 PM

Do you leave your car running while going through the car wash? Any codes?

JohnTrang · 03-01-2015, 07:53 PM

Maybe the car wash has an under body spray that gets an electrical component wet.
When I clean an engine, the car will idle rough if the spark plugs/distributor gets wet.
By the next day it's OK, or after several hours drying in the sun.

mrsmith · 03-01-2015, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aviator44

Do you leave your car running while going through the car wash? Any codes?

Yes I have the car on but no codes are thrown. Ill try the cleaning the MAF sensors to see if that helps as well, even though I don't see why going through the wash would mess with them in any way. Do you think the G3's will be fine going through?

Bulletz4break · 03-02-2015, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsmith

Yes I have the car on but no codes are thrown. Ill try the cleaning the MAF sensors to see if that helps as well, even though I don't see why going through the wash would mess with them in any way. Do you think the G3's will be fine going through?

Never take your car through a car wash, especially a non touch less. The harsh chemicals and brushes destroy your cars paint.

juld0zer · 03-04-2015, 04:06 AM

open the hood after carwash next time, inspect the intake piping, maf sensors and see if you can find any water dribbling down onto the pod filters.

Aviator44 · 03-04-2015, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsmith

Yes I have the car on but no codes are thrown. Ill try the cleaning the MAF sensors to see if that helps as well, even though I don't see why going through the wash would mess with them in any way. Do you think the G3's will be fine going through?

That may be your issue. Turn the car off. Put it in neutral. Go through the car wash again and see if the problem persists.

03-01-2015, 04:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
mrsmith Base Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Porltand, Or Posts: 13 Drives: --09 Black 370z-- Rep Power: 12	Rough idle after car wash Hey guys, I took my car through a car wash a couple of times in the last 3 weeks. After the wash, I go home turn the car off. When I turn the car back on (no matter how long it's been after turning it off) the car RPMs barely get past 750 and then go below 500 for a couple of minutes and the idle is rough. It then snaps out of it and is completely fine. This happens maybe 2 or 3 times after every time I take it through a wash but then it never happens again until I take it through the wash again. Any thoughts on why this could be happening? Also, I just installed Stillen G3 intakes a couple of days ago and i'm not sure if they are car wash friendly

03-01-2015, 05:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
370Z JT A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: United States Posts: 2,905 Drives: 370Z PW 7AT Rep Power: 380	Clean MAF sensors. __________________ Click for My Journal Top Secret \| EVO-R \| Fujimura Auto \| Shine Auto \| Seibon \| MRWorks \| Swift \| SPC \| SSR \| UpRev \| Project Kics \| NST \| Titek \| Eibach \| Nismo \| Whiteline \| Quaife \| Invidia \| Fly1 \| CF Element \| Carbon Signal

03-01-2015, 07:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Aviator44 Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 299 Drives: AAM Twin Turbo 370Z Rep Power: 12	Do you leave your car running while going through the car wash? Any codes? __________________ www.aamcompetition.com AAM Twin Turbo System

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03-01-2015, 07:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
JohnTrang Base Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: North Alabama Age: 53 Posts: 47 Drives: 2015 370Z Sport Tech Rep Power: 12	Maybe the car wash has an under body spray that gets an electrical component wet. When I clean an engine, the car will idle rough if the spark plugs/distributor gets wet. By the next day it's OK, or after several hours drying in the sun.

03-04-2015, 04:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
juld0zer Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Sydney Posts: 428 Drives: 11 Nissan 370Z MB M6 Rep Power: 140	open the hood after carwash next time, inspect the intake piping, maf sensors and see if you can find any water dribbling down onto the pod filters.