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  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

cleaned engine yesterday, problems today

  • Thread starter Thread starter vroom-vroom
  • Start date Start date Oct 4, 2006
V

vroom-vroom

New Member
Aug 16, 2004
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0
Chicago, Il
Oct 4, 2006
#1
  • Oct 4, 2006
  • #1
I have a '99 gt and yesterday I cleaned my engine bay. I used a spray bottle with a little less than half simple green and the other half water. I made sure to cover the alternator with a plastic bag so I didnt get that at all and lightly misted the whole engine with the simple green trying not to get too much of it on any wires or spark plugs or any electrical stuff. After that I misted the whole engine with water and let it dry. Today I went to drive it and it definitely wasn't driving right. It idled rough and whenever I'd try to accelerate the whole car would vibrate a lot. It felt like it was bogging down or the engine wasnt getting enough air or something. Anybody have any idea what I did? I'm hoping it's something simple and cheap, like some new spark plugs and plug wires because I got mine too wet or something?
 

jstreet0204

Active Member
Jun 26, 2003
939
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36
Winston Salem, NC
Oct 4, 2006
#2
  • Oct 4, 2006
  • #2
Pull the coil packs and see if they are wet. Usually this problem is from water getting down around the boots.
 
G

gotchopsticks

Member
Sep 4, 2004
315
0
16
Oct 4, 2006
#3
  • Oct 4, 2006
  • #3
any codes???
 
V

vroom-vroom

New Member
Aug 16, 2004
19
0
0
Chicago, Il
Oct 4, 2006
#4
  • Oct 4, 2006
  • #4
I'm going to try checking the plugs and wires and coils. The check engine light just came on, but I don't have a tuner or anything to check the codes. I might have to take it in if I can't figure it out.
 

COramprat

...I can take it. I think.
20+ Year Stangneter
Mar 2, 2003
8,474
1,463
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Sea of Tranquility
Oct 4, 2006
#5
  • Oct 4, 2006
  • #5
You got a wet coil. just need to pull each one and dry it out.
 

GDawg

Founding Member
Mar 22, 2002
1,469
19
68
Nevada
Oct 4, 2006
#6
  • Oct 4, 2006
  • #6
vroom-vroom said:
I'm going to try checking the plugs and wires and coils. The check engine light just came on, but I don't have a tuner or anything to check the codes. I might have to take it in if I can't figure it out.
Click to expand...

Go to AutoZone or Checker and they advertise that they will run your codes for free. At least here they do. I've gone to AutoZone and they have a big sign on the window that says, "Need help with 'Check engine' light? We'll help for free". I've asked them before and if you are patient, let them do their sales, they will get to you and run your codes for free. My last one was a P1151 which was my driver's side o2 sensor. Don't pay the money for that. It's not an expensive deal. All of five minutes worth of hooking up a tester and reading it. If they don't give you a descriptive code and only the code, write it down and look it up through Google or ask here.
 

DTNODYA

Member
Dec 15, 2005
831
1
16
Oct 5, 2006
#7
  • Oct 5, 2006
  • #7
COramprat said:
You got a wet coil. just need to pull each one and dry it out.
Click to expand...

+1

You can spray them out with air if you have a compressor (works faster) ...
 
G

GettinThere

Member
Jul 29, 2005
553
1
19
Central Texas
Oct 5, 2006
#8
  • Oct 5, 2006
  • #8
vroom-vroom said:
...and let it dry.
Click to expand...

If you have compressed air, dry it right after washing (or use a leaf blower). Then start it up and run it, at least until it warms up. Works for me.
 
M

matts90gt

New Member
Jul 5, 2002
46
0
0
Oct 5, 2006
#9
  • Oct 5, 2006
  • #9
jstreet0204 said:
Pull the coil packs and see if they are wet. Usually this problem is from water getting down around the boots.
Click to expand...

+1000

I did the same thing with my 2000. Had to replace a coilpack.
 
V

vroom-vroom

New Member
Aug 16, 2004
19
0
0
Chicago, Il
Oct 5, 2006
#10
  • Oct 5, 2006
  • #10
It's running better today, I think I'm just going to give it a couple days to dry out and see what happens. I still have the check engine light though, I'll probably have to take it to AutoZone for that.
 
M

matts90gt

New Member
Jul 5, 2002
46
0
0
Oct 6, 2006
#11
  • Oct 6, 2006
  • #11
vroom-vroom said:
It's running better today, I think I'm just going to give it a couple days to dry out and see what happens. I still have the check engine light though, I'll probably have to take it to AutoZone for that.
Click to expand...

Once you get it dried out, you'll probably have to reset the codes. Glad to hear that it's working better.
 

GDawg

Founding Member
Mar 22, 2002
1,469
19
68
Nevada
Oct 6, 2006
#12
  • Oct 6, 2006
  • #12
matts90gt said:
Once you get it dried out, you'll probably have to reset the codes. Glad to hear that it's working better.
Click to expand...

+1

Disconnect the battery for 15 minutes or so. The check engine light will go out but see if it comes back on after about 45 minutes of driving. It may not come back on after it's dried. No check engine light, no codes to be had. If it does come back on, go to VatoZone (AutoZone).
 
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