Wet motor won't run

Faltura · 09-22-2009, 09:52 AM

My friend recently washed his motor with a spray washer on his 98 Frontier. Since then, it will idle but spits and sputters when driving. He pulled off the distributor cap and noticed a bunch of dust. He cleaned the cap out but it did not help. It looks as if it has been wet before. He tried to get the rotor off but it seems to be stuck. It is possible that the pick-up coil is wet under the shield that is under the rotor. Is there a good way to get the cap and shield off without making a mess? Is there something else to check that may be wet?

bradrhale · 09-22-2009, 10:04 AM

i always let the engine run when i wash out the engine bay. as soon as it dies, i know at least where i was spraying when it happened. the cap may be cracked so dont dismiss the idea of a bad cap. also check connections.

Faltura · 09-22-2009, 11:31 AM

I have heard that the cap seal was a problem with those models. Any truth to that?

hotrodpc · 09-22-2009, 12:12 PM

Take the cap off, spray it and the rotor with WD-40 and it will fire right up. IF not, thats not where the water got in. It does crack me up, Nissan seems to hung on to dizzy caps for longer than most. Although 94 is about right to still have one on many models. That ought to fix it though. Spray any contatcs that you thnk it is with WD-40 and it will fire up when you get the right one, but I'd be about 95% sure its the dizzy cap, rotor and contacts in the dizzy.

gmctrucks · 09-22-2009, 04:20 PM

Turn it on at night and see if you see any sparks coming out of the cap or wires.

Crmzendrgone · 09-22-2009, 06:04 PM

I have always been told and do wash the engine bay out while it is running for what brad said and so you don't warp the heads, at least that is what I have been told. i agree with hotrod, too.

hotrodpc · 09-22-2009, 06:37 PM

Assured, the WD-40 will get it running. Its just a matter of finding out what got wet. As I said though, more than likely popping the dizzy cap, spray it and the dizzy itself and it'll fire up instantly.

Faltura · 09-23-2009, 09:51 AM

Thanks guys. I paid a visit to my friends place and found that the water was in the spark plug wells. We took the rotor off. It was very dusty under the cap, but no signs of water there. The water in the bottom of each well would evaporate up into the plug wire boot. This is why it ran worse as it got warmer.

Thanks for the inputs. Everybodies input does help.

Crmzendrgone · 09-23-2009, 09:54 AM

Cool glad you got it running good.

gmctrucks · 09-23-2009, 05:48 PM

You wrote that the spark plug wells had water so this is for everybody my grandpa had a old GMC with a V/6 engine well living out in a ranch a small rock fell down the spark plug hole so when they went to remove the plug the rock fell in the cylinder so always blow out your plugs holes before you remove your plugs.
GMC
PS-I didn't want to high jack this thread but it looked like a good time to write about it. Also thanks for letting us know what it was.

09-22-2009, 09:52 AM	#1
Faltura Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 5	Wet motor won't run My friend recently washed his motor with a spray washer on his 98 Frontier. Since then, it will idle but spits and sputters when driving. He pulled off the distributor cap and noticed a bunch of dust. He cleaned the cap out but it did not help. It looks as if it has been wet before. He tried to get the rotor off but it seems to be stuck. It is possible that the pick-up coil is wet under the shield that is under the rotor. Is there a good way to get the cap and shield off without making a mess? Is there something else to check that may be wet?

09-22-2009, 12:12 PM	#4
hotrodpc Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,149	Take the cap off, spray it and the rotor with WD-40 and it will fire right up. IF not, thats not where the water got in. It does crack me up, Nissan seems to hung on to dizzy caps for longer than most. Although 94 is about right to still have one on many models. That ought to fix it though. Spray any contatcs that you thnk it is with WD-40 and it will fire up when you get the right one, but I'd be about 95% sure its the dizzy cap, rotor and contacts in the dizzy. __________________ *Winners NEVER Quit , Quitters NEVER Win !!!*

09-22-2009, 06:04 PM	#6
Crmzendrgone Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,420	I have always been told and do wash the engine bay out while it is running for what brad said and so you don't warp the heads, at least that is what I have been told. i agree with hotrod, too. __________________ ENGINES PRODUCE POWER. MOTORS RECEIVE POWER. https://lastroundbestround.com/Home_Page.html

09-22-2009, 06:37 PM	#7
hotrodpc Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,149	Assured, the WD-40 will get it running. Its just a matter of finding out what got wet. As I said though, more than likely popping the dizzy cap, spray it and the dizzy itself and it'll fire up instantly. __________________ *Winners NEVER Quit , Quitters NEVER Win !!!*

09-23-2009, 09:54 AM	#9
Crmzendrgone Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,420	Cool glad you got it running good. __________________ ENGINES PRODUCE POWER. MOTORS RECEIVE POWER. https://lastroundbestround.com/Home_Page.html

09-22-2009, 10:04 AM	#2
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,024	i always let the engine run when i wash out the engine bay. as soon as it dies, i know at least where i was spraying when it happened. the cap may be cracked so dont dismiss the idea of a bad cap. also check connections.

09-22-2009, 11:31 AM	#3
Faltura Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 5	I have heard that the cap seal was a problem with those models. Any truth to that?

09-22-2009, 04:20 PM	#5
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,033	Turn it on at night and see if you see any sparks coming out of the cap or wires.

09-23-2009, 09:51 AM	#8
Faltura Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 5	Thanks guys. I paid a visit to my friends place and found that the water was in the spark plug wells. We took the rotor off. It was very dusty under the cap, but no signs of water there. The water in the bottom of each well would evaporate up into the plug wire boot. This is why it ran worse as it got warmer. Thanks for the inputs. Everybodies input does help.

09-23-2009, 05:48 PM	#10
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,033	You wrote that the spark plug wells had water so this is for everybody my grandpa had a old GMC with a V/6 engine well living out in a ranch a small rock fell down the spark plug hole so when they went to remove the plug the rock fell in the cylinder so always blow out your plugs holes before you remove your plugs. GMC PS-I didn't want to high jack this thread but it looked like a good time to write about it. Also thanks for letting us know what it was.

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