I just washed down my engine with engine degreaser and water and then started my car right back up and it sounds all FAWKED UP it's all sputtering and stuff....and the rpms jump and it sounds gross and when the air is on it drops down too 150rpms.....is there water in the distributer...what did I do and what do i do to fix it??????please help ASAP

 

I dont know why you people pour water on your engines knowing this will
happen.

Not even good detailers will clean engine bays with water.

Check your spark plugs for water.
Distributor also.

 

should I just let the water dry or do I have to take off my distributor and take out my plugs?

 

just put a plastic shopping back over the distributor...that's what i do, i never had a problem

 

I just checked the distributor and no water or anything....what in gods name did I do

 

Check your plugs and the insides of the wire sockets...probably wet.

 

Ok.. If we don't use water, then what do we use? I want to clean out my engine bay too when the weather gets warmer. I thought all you have to do is make sure all the important components are covered by plastic (distributor, spark plug sockets/wires, battery, what else did i miss?) and then spray the degreaser, let it sit and then wash it down with water.




[Modified by arren123, 5:45 PM 1/5/2002]

 

SWEET! the spark plug wires and plugs were wet so I kept the hood open for a bit with the plugs out and the car is fine now thanks everybody for your help...from now on im covering that **** before I rinse **** off...

 

GOD DAMN IT nevermind!!!! I just started the bitch up again and it's sputtering even more...and i have like no power...and my check engine just started blinking and now it's on!!!!!

 

use simple green and cover all electical stuff with plastic. just be carefull.

 

Was the engine hot when you sprayed it down with water?

"the spark plug wires and plugs were wet so I kept the hood open for a bit with the plugs out and the car is fine now"
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Does the above mean you just let everything air dry? Most of the first things to check were addressed, distributor, plugs and wires. I'd check the air filter box also to see if there were any signs of water in the element. IF you think there was water there then pull the intake hose at the TB and take a look inside the manifold and intake tube with a flash light. If you see any water dry up what you can see and then pull the plugs and crank the engine over like you were doing a compression test. Since you've run a few times you may not get anything to come out but at least you'll be sure nothings in the intake runners. BTW, if anyone ever stalls a car going through water, never, never ever try to start it up. Pull the plugs and crank it over and the water will blow out.

If all the above doesn't work then I'd look at something electrical. Connections around the distributor and any electrical fuse or relay boxes in the engine compartment that may be holding some water. Not really sure about the location of these boxes though.

 

alright well I got codes 71-74 right now so those are cyllinder misfires so do I have to replace the plugs...or just wait til it dries out???

 

You may have to get new wires.....try flushing them out with brake cleaner or WD-40. Once water gets into the wires...it is hard to get it out. Letting them sit for hours to dry won't do it. Check the plug holes for any water sitting down there and clean that out too.

 

well everything is back to normal now....I fixed everything and dumped all the water out of the plug wires and it runs normal now...thanks everyone for helping

 

so is it the plus wire got wet?

 

actually my clinder 2 was FLOODED with water lol so i got all the water out