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speed dead after wash

dmention7

dmention7

Hater
I bet you just have a connector that's wet or something. I couldn't tell ya what the fuse you're blowing is for, but I would follow the advice in that thread... dry the engine bay out completely using a hair dryer (leaf blower might be more trouble than it's worth).

Those fuses are there to protect the components from shorts, so I highly doubt you've got any real damage, but you might end up with a hefty diagnostic bill.

Same thing happened to me in my first car. I decided to clean and degrease the engine bay. Afterwards I took it for a drive and it started sputtering and finally died.... would crank over but not fire. Let it sit overnight and the next day it was good as new.


As you've probably learned, high pressure water in the engine bay = no-no. Next time, I'd suggest wrapping all electrical connectors in aluminum foil or plastic wrap, carefully spraying engine components with a dilution of Simple Green, and then rinsing with a slow trickle of water. Avoid electronics/connectors as best as you can, but a slow stream of water dripping over the engine really shouldn't get into anything it's not supposed to.
 
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shadyspeed3

Guest
i did go through the whole engine bay with a air blower and i checked it yesterday after sitting over 24 hrs and it still popped the fuse. i just think that its would be best to take it into the dealership. i really wouldnt trust too many other peoples to look at my car.
 
VTEC8YA

VTEC8YA

The Story Teller....
Wow... see now at the shop I use to work at there was a detail dept. that used to just hose engine bays down. was careful not to blast the alternator. never had a single one go bad? Hmmmm.
 
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shadyspeed3

Guest
now what would i check on the alternator? someone else told me that as well!
 
Big Nate

Big Nate

Chaos Engineer
I have cleaned more then a 100 different cars engine bays and never had an issue with any electrical stuff. So this is not the norm (i.e. everyone please keep cleaning your engine bay or my OCD will force me never to be friends with you). I had the hose all over my old mazdaspeed6 at least twice a month in the summer then once a month in the winter. Also this is the first speed6/3 motor I have heard of this happening to. When it come to washing the motor there is not much you can do wrong (short of spray with high pressure right int a spark plug). Have you done mods to the motor?? If so then I bet dollars to doughnuts you didn't get a connector seated back down or sealed.

I have work with detailing for more then half my life and have only seen an issue one time with a motor after washing it. That was a highly modified 1955 chevy. Turned out he had not covered some wires.

Please keep washing your car inside and out.

Nate
 
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shadyspeed3

Guest
UPDATE

So i had it brought to a little service shop and had them check it out. turns out that the coil pack on the #3 cylinder burned out. so I called a buddie that works at carquest and we ordered it next day air. i should be running this afternoon once the part gets in.

what an expensive weekend this has been! lol
 
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