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-   -   HELP! washed car and now engine has problems starting (http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivetrain/55934-help-washed-car-now-engine-has-problems-starting.html)

dthem370 06-07-2012 02:28 PM
HELP! washed car and now engine has problems starting
 
I washed the exterior of my car like I always do. I did NOT use any water in the engine bay. I went to start the car and it would just crank and then start for like 1/2 a sec and die out. I kept trying and it finally started but wouldnt pass 3-4 rpms or 30-40 mph. Then parked it and tried it again and it cranked really hard and started up. Then it drove fine. Now it starts normally but if i let it sit for like 10 minutes and try it again it either cranks hard and starts or starts and then dies out. Second try though it will start perfecty. Does anyone know what this can be?

nepali 06-07-2012 02:38 PM
Battery?

GaleForce 06-07-2012 02:40 PM
Low fuel?

MattP725 06-07-2012 02:44 PM
Do you have Injen or other cold air intakes? You might have saturated the filter... give it time to dry out and you should be ok...

Otherwise it may be a coincidence... check things like your oil level and check for any codes. Also make sure your MAF sensors are dry and plugged in (no frayed wires either). I would suggest you stop trying to drive it if it isn't running right. As someone else said, how is the fuel? Def wouldn't be the battery... if it was dead it wouldn't start at all.

dthem370 06-07-2012 03:07 PM
checked the battery and its on tight. Fuel is a lil over half tank. I just disconnected the battery to reset ecu, I will update soon and see if that solves anything. I do have the stillen gen III intakes but those filters are tucked pretty high in the front bumper and i dont think they can get wet that easily.

IDZRVIT 06-07-2012 03:41 PM
Gremlins. Yeah, those pesky gremlins have infested your engine.

dthem370 06-07-2012 03:59 PM
does anyone know how long our batteries are good for? I was thinking maybe the battery might be going bad. I have a 2009, anyone change their battery yet?

Thechidz 06-07-2012 04:03 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by dthem370 (Post 1759139)
I washed the exterior of my car like I always do. I did NOT use any water in the engine bay. I went to start the car and it would just crank and then start for like 1/2 a sec and die out. I kept trying and it finally started but wouldnt pass 3-4 rpms or 30-40 mph. Then parked it and tried it again and it cranked really hard and started up. Then it drove fine. Now it starts normally but if i let it sit for like 10 minutes and try it again it either cranks hard and starts or starts and then dies out. Second try though it will start perfecty. Does anyone know what this can be?
this sounds no bueno, did you check for oil consumption?

dthem370 06-07-2012 04:12 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thechidz (Post 1759302)
this sounds no bueno, did you check for oil consumption?
Yup oil level is fine.

vividracing 06-07-2012 04:14 PM
Let the car sit for a while to dry the air filters out. I'd bet that's the issue. You'd be amazed at how wet they can get when you're blasting high pressure water on the front of the car. Your car is basically trying to breath through a wet pillow case right now.

dthem370 06-07-2012 04:19 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by vividracing (Post 1759324)
Let the car sit for a while to dry the air filters out. I'd bet that's the issue. You'd be amazed at how wet they can get when you're blasting high pressure water on the front of the car. Your car is basically trying to breath through a wet pillow case right now.
Called some places and the dealer and they all said the same thing as you. What I dont understand is why this didnt happen before, because I always wash my car the same way and same place so why now and never the other 100 times before?

vividracing 06-07-2012 04:32 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by dthem370 (Post 1759334)
Called some places and the dealer and they all said the same thing as you. What I dont understand is why this didnt happen before, because I always wash my car the same way and same place so why now and never the other 100 times before?
That is odd. All I can guess is that maybe you used the high pressure spray somewhere you haven't sprayed it before? Even at a different angle, it could have been just different enough to let the water get in there.

If you're really curious, you could try looking for signs of water under the hood or behind the bumper.

VDC_OFF 06-07-2012 04:54 PM
I have had Nissans for a while and my stock battery never lasted more than a year... but then again I always had a system so idk. Take it in to see if it holds a charge.

corbin09 06-07-2012 04:57 PM
You most likely got your filters or MAF wet. Mine did this in a rain storm yesterday. Just pull the bumper and check everything.

dthem370 06-07-2012 04:58 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by VDC_OFF (Post 1759416)
I have had Nissans for a while and my stock battery never lasted more than a year... but then again I always had a system so idk. Take it in to see if it holds a charge.
Interesting, I put a system in my car not too long ago. Maybe that slowly drained my battery.

MattP725 06-07-2012 08:44 PM
If your car isn't starting and then sits and starts later it is NOT your battery... they don't regain charge on their own after sitting... it would only have gotten worse. The 3-4k rpm limit is called limp mode.

It only takes a small amount of moisture on the MAF and filters to throw it into limp mode or affect the starting/driving... I had my car go into limp mode just because it sat outside in a heavy rain storm (no puddling of any severity).

As others said, pull the bumper, reset the ECU and dry the filters/MAF and you should be golden.

dthem370 06-08-2012 12:33 PM
Everything is working fine today. Seems like it must of been the water getting to the intake filters. Anyways I will be cleaning out the throttle bodies and MAF sensors today.

370Z Purist 06-08-2012 05:11 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by dthem370 (Post 1761065)
Everything is working fine today. Seems like it must of been the water getting to the intake filters. Anyways I will be cleaning out the throttle bodies and MAF sensors today.
Good to hear it wasn't anything serious. I once had the Z out when temperatures were in the teens. Went CRAZY limp mode, couldn't get revs above 2.5k. Pulled over and restarted the engine. Everything was still cold, but limp mode was gone.

Also, once drove through a foot deep flood "puddle." On a low road after a few days of constant rain. Drove fine afterwards. Just goes to show you that strange things happen... and that you were just unlucky that day.

SmallermouseZ 06-09-2012 05:11 AM
Time to bring it back to the dealer to check it out?

MattP725 06-09-2012 11:19 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by SmallermouseZ (Post 1762542)
Time to bring it back to the dealer to check it out?
:ugh2:

blackonorange 06-09-2012 05:59 PM
U know what's wierd , I have the STs rear mount kit on my car drive in the rain all the time ( no rain sock on) and I've never had this problem , I think its your mafs

MattP725 06-09-2012 06:21 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by blackonorange (Post 1763303)
U know what's wierd , I have the STs rear mount kit on my car drive in the rain all the time ( no rain sock on) and I've never had this problem , I think its your mafs
Well it always IS the MAF... if your filters have moisture, the MAF senses the moisture and the loss in vaaccum and throws it into limp mode.

Our cars are pretty sensitive to moisture to prevent hydrolock (especially with CAIs). Maybe yours is just far enough away from the MAF that the moisture doesn't really hit it hard.

blackonorange 06-09-2012 06:30 PM
Hmmm weird

ALTN8NRG 06-13-2012 11:23 AM
I think I had a similiar problem with my car. After having new exhaust installed, my car would rapidly rev and then die. Starting the car took a few attempts and then I couldn't go over 30 mphs. The problem stopped and I was able to drive normally. The check engine light remained lit. I took it to the dealer and they said it was the new exhaust and told me something about adjusting magnet-something-another. Anyway... they adjusted/calibrated/whatever for free.

dthem370 06-13-2012 06:38 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ALTN8NRG (Post 1769774)
I think I had a similiar problem with my car. After having new exhaust installed, my car would rapidly rev and then die. Starting the car took a few attempts and then I couldn't go over 30 mphs. The problem stopped and I was able to drive normally. The check engine light remained lit. I took it to the dealer and they said it was the new exhaust and told me something about adjusting magnet-something-another. Anyway... they adjusted/calibrated/whatever for free.
That sounds exactly like what happened to mine except I had no check engine light on.

Its been a couple days and car is running great, wish I knew what the exact cause was for sure. Might wash my car again soon and see if the problem happens again.

JJ-NISMO 06-15-2012 07:38 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by dthem370 (Post 1759287)
does anyone know how long our batteries are good for? I was thinking maybe the battery might be going bad. I have a 2009, anyone change their battery yet?


Dthem... You soaked your intake cones, but you are not hydrolocked. Take them off and let them dry out.

dthem370 06-16-2012 12:57 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by JJ-NISMO (Post 1774219)
Dthem... I had the exact same issue. You soaked your intake cones, but you are not hydrolocked. Stop starting your engine and revving, etc because you will just pull water from the cones into the engine.

I have the AEM EFI intake, and after washing my car one day, with ZERO engine bay cleaning, my car would not start. I fired the engine, it bogged down, and died. It sounded like the car was suffocating. I pushed my car into my garage and got to work. I will tell you what I did to get my car working again.

Jack the front, remove the front bumper, and pull off the intake cones. After removing the intake cones, shake out ALL of the excess water, and then put them in front of a fan for a couple of hours to dry. While doing this, pull out your MAF sensors and make sure they are dry. Mine had gotten water on them, which caused the engine to misread the airflow. This, combined with the lack of air getting in from the soaked cones, is what is killing the engine.

Buy MAF cleaner from any auto parts store, spray the MAFs to clean off any residue that is messing with the computer, and let them dry. After everything is totally dry, replace the MAFS, cones, and fire the engine again. You may also want to reset your ECU by disconnecting the NEG battery terminal for ten minutes. If you do this, which I did, you will need to reset your auto up/down windows as well.

If everything is back to normal, put your bumper back on and go drive for a bit. Get the engine hot and let any excess water burn out.

I spent HOURS doing all of this, so be prepared to take it easy and let the engine dry out. It took me multiple starts, and multiple idling sessions to get the engine to a point where it would actually stay idling, and not bog down and die. Next time, be careful spraying your front wheels... I think this is what screwed us.

Also, but the foam pieces that prevent hydrolock.

Let me know if this helps.
Thanks a lot for the good info. I already cleaned out my air filters, MAFs and also decided to clean the throttle bodies and let everything dry out. The car is running great now. I also washed my car again yesterday to see if the problem would happen again and im all good.


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