03bluP5
April 13th, 2003, 09:33 PM
(Some time ago, I believe there was a thread on this topic.)
Encouraged by the nice weather this weekend, I did my spring car cleaning, including hosing under the hood. This winter was the worst and the car needed attention badly.
I covered the AEM filter but nothing else. I hosed the engine compartment like I've always done, then idled the engine to dry out. Seemed ok. But then I took the car a few blocks away to dispose the old engine oil at a garage - the check engine light came on, the car was sputtering something awful, and it sounded like a diesel tractor. When I got home, steam was coming out from under the hood so I lifted it to let it escape & dry out. Didn't smell too good either. I left the hood open in my garage for the rest of the afternoon but tonite it was no better.
I was going to call Mazda's roadside assistance and have it towed to a Mazda dealership to have them check it out. Now I'm convinced I know what the problem is, which Mazda will not likely warranty - water got past the Sparko dust caps, into the plug holes, and there is some short circuiting going on - possibly running on 3 cylinders.
In the morning if it's no better, I'll remove the dust caps and check it out. May need a hair dryer to dry the water. May even need to put the original wires back on.
I've never had this trouble before, but then I've never had Sparko wires before. Should've covered them in plastic wrap, assuming I'm on the right track.
Anyone else experience this lately?
http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
Encouraged by the nice weather this weekend, I did my spring car cleaning, including hosing under the hood. This winter was the worst and the car needed attention badly.
I covered the AEM filter but nothing else. I hosed the engine compartment like I've always done, then idled the engine to dry out. Seemed ok. But then I took the car a few blocks away to dispose the old engine oil at a garage - the check engine light came on, the car was sputtering something awful, and it sounded like a diesel tractor. When I got home, steam was coming out from under the hood so I lifted it to let it escape & dry out. Didn't smell too good either. I left the hood open in my garage for the rest of the afternoon but tonite it was no better.
I was going to call Mazda's roadside assistance and have it towed to a Mazda dealership to have them check it out. Now I'm convinced I know what the problem is, which Mazda will not likely warranty - water got past the Sparko dust caps, into the plug holes, and there is some short circuiting going on - possibly running on 3 cylinders.
In the morning if it's no better, I'll remove the dust caps and check it out. May need a hair dryer to dry the water. May even need to put the original wires back on.
I've never had this trouble before, but then I've never had Sparko wires before. Should've covered them in plastic wrap, assuming I'm on the right track.
Anyone else experience this lately?
http://msg.toprotege.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif