Just reading through the most recent GRM (Dec 06), came across an article about checking the health of an engine and doing tune ups (pg 110). It states "A good test for the ignition components simply involves misting them with a water sprayer while the engine is running. If the engine misfires or you see or hear sparks, you have some dirty or fautly components."

I dont quite understand what they mean. Im pretty sure all ignition components are sealed to prevent water from getting into them. I can understand if there is a leak somewhere, the water may effect it during this spray test. But if there are problems when water is not around then how is this going to diagnose anything?

 

holy crap, you read?

 

I had someone helping me and my PC is voice recognition

 

most likely saying hitting the electricial system with water will induce a spark to show you a short circut. like a hair line crack in the distributor cap or a spark plus wire arcing off the valve cover. the water will let the electric pass easier to the metal to short out.

a spray bottle will work , i wouldnt want to try this with a garden hose

 

so a firehose might be overdoing it?

 

I do this all the time at work if I think there is a spark "leak". There is this special spray called Hi volt, which I guess that is better than water for diagnosing, but others in the trade have told me using windshield washer fluid works just as good. All I do is soak everything down with washer fluid, I usually pour it on the wires and dist. cap as noticed if the motor misses....then you know you have a problem.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RTW DC2R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so a firehose might be overdoing it?</TD></TR></TABLE>

just a little

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pyitrboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I do this all the time at work if I think there is a spark "leak". There is this special spray called Hi volt, which I guess that is better than water for diagnosing, but others in the trade have told me using windshield washer fluid works just as good. All I do is soak everything down with washer fluid, I usually pour it on the wires and dist. cap as noticed if the motor misses....then you know you have a problem.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah but all thats showing you is that water got into the system. how is it going to help diagnose an ignition problem when water is not present?

 

this is a guess, but ill related it with looking for a leak in a tire...

a tire will leak air, but lets say it's a slow leak and you cant find it...you put it in water so that you can see and find the leak easier...the leak will be there whether water is present or not...now put that reference with ignition components, i take it the leak will still be there with the absence of water...

im prolly wrong though...