Sup all
1997 Accord Ex F22 5 speed

I sprayed degrease on the bay and hosed it down like ive done many times before with my Civic.
I also did the air filter and VC gasket but I doubt that has anything to do with it.

About 2 hours later I went to start the car and nothing. It cranks, makes a sound as if something is stuck, then stops. Ive tried cranking many times and nothing. Before this the car had no problems starting.
I also swapped out the resistor box with a different one with no avail. I disconnected the harness plugs on the passenger side to let them dry over night, but I didnt see any water in them.

Is there a fuse I could check? I checked the ones in the passenger side box and they are all fine, including the bolt in ones.

Thanks in advance!

 

It stopped cranking? If so most likely hydro locked. Pull plugs, crank engine, watch water show.

 

X2 check spark plug holes

 

How would the water get into the engine?

Ill record a video tomorrow to give a better explanation for the stop in cranking.

 

Like I said through your spark plug holes

 

Thats interesting, I thought the wires covered it up enough. Thanks though, ill pull the plugs tomorrow, I was going to replace them anyways.

 

Nope I've had water get in there with the plugs in and spark plug cover on

 

OK I just cannot see anyway water can get past torqued down spark plugs into cylinders.
Just in the same way water can hydrolock a motor because the water cannot be compressed and it cannot escape through spark plug holes, water cannot get past spark plugs into a cylinder.

 

I wasn't saying it was hydrolocked and I didn't say it got passed the spark plugs. When it happened to me the water just stayed above the spark plug. Blew it out with a compressor and car was fine

 

Gotcha, yeah that part of it I understand, but the OP said it wouldn't even crank.
Water around the plugs could stop the engine from firing, but not prevent it from even turnings over.

 

You mentioned washing the air filter...so if it isn't hydro-locked like MAD MIKE speculated, your air filter may be soaked. I'd pull it and check it. Shouldn't keep it from cranking but but sure keep it from starting. Need more info.

The no crank issue: Turns over at all? Just a starter click? No click? Any dash lights when the key is on?

 

No I didnt wash the filter I just changed it out with a new one.

I just went to go turn it on and it cranked up just fine. It idled decently but when I would give it gas it would sputter, and then turn off. It did drive fine enough to where I put it back on my drive way. So im assuming water did get into the spark plugs. It also has an MIL on so ill check that when I get back and do the spark plugs. It doesnt want to start again and its doing the same noise, ill record a video when I get back.

If there is water in the cylinders, how would I take it out?

 

IF, you had any water in the cylinders, and you have already ran the engine, any water that was in there is now most certainly gone.
I capitalize if because I am still speculative that was the underlying issue.

That being said, I hope I am right and the cylinders were dry, as pistons trying to compress water will cause serious damage to your engine.
Just for your own peace of mind, and maybe to satisfy my curiousity , you may want to perform a compression test and let us know your findings.
I'm looking forward to the video

 

Not too hard, being an aluminum head the steel sparkplug. it can loosen over time, not enough to cause a notice in engine performance, but enough to allow water to seep past the threads if the plug is not fully seated.

 

did you check there isn't moisture inside the distributor cap?

 

I'd definatelycheck the distributor cap. if u didn't cover it. I always cover sensitive electrical componets with plastic bags and spray with wd-40 or something.

 

everything will need to dry out! wait for a hot day and leave the hood up in direct sunlight. this will dry up all the old moisture. and you can see if it needs to be replaced

 

He's correct. Let it dry out.

 

i agree with the last three posts, usually when whashing out the engine you would want to cover up the distributor, air filter and starter. I usually remove the negative terminal from the pole of the battery too.

 

I would also check the crank sensor wiring to see if the wires have the insulation chafed a bit, the moisture will cause a short, not allowing the car to start, but it will crank over

 

The next day the car turned on without a hitch and no MIL. Its been running great with no problems.
Im still going to do the spark plugs but so far so good. Thanks for all the advice peoples!


I got 4 OEM floor mats and 2 rear splash guards for $20 at the pull-a-part