HELP! washed car and now engine has problems starting

MattP725 · 06-07-2012, 09:44 PM

If your car isn't starting and then sits and starts later it is NOT your battery... they don't regain charge on their own after sitting... it would only have gotten worse. The 3-4k rpm limit is called limp mode.

It only takes a small amount of moisture on the MAF and filters to throw it into limp mode or affect the starting/driving... I had my car go into limp mode just because it sat outside in a heavy rain storm (no puddling of any severity).

As others said, pull the bumper, reset the ECU and dry the filters/MAF and you should be golden.

dthem370 · 06-08-2012, 01:33 PM

Everything is working fine today. Seems like it must of been the water getting to the intake filters. Anyways I will be cleaning out the throttle bodies and MAF sensors today.

370Z Purist · 06-08-2012, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dthem370

Everything is working fine today. Seems like it must of been the water getting to the intake filters. Anyways I will be cleaning out the throttle bodies and MAF sensors today.

Good to hear it wasn't anything serious. I once had the Z out when temperatures were in the teens. Went CRAZY limp mode, couldn't get revs above 2.5k. Pulled over and restarted the engine. Everything was still cold, but limp mode was gone.

Also, once drove through a foot deep flood "puddle." On a low road after a few days of constant rain. Drove fine afterwards. Just goes to show you that strange things happen... and that you were just unlucky that day.

SmallermouseZ · 06-09-2012, 06:11 AM

Time to bring it back to the dealer to check it out?

MattP725 · 06-09-2012, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmallermouseZ

Time to bring it back to the dealer to check it out?

blackonorange · 06-09-2012, 06:59 PM

U know what's wierd , I have the STs rear mount kit on my car drive in the rain all the time ( no rain sock on) and I've never had this problem , I think its your mafs

MattP725 · 06-09-2012, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackonorange

U know what's wierd , I have the STs rear mount kit on my car drive in the rain all the time ( no rain sock on) and I've never had this problem , I think its your mafs

Well it always IS the MAF... if your filters have moisture, the MAF senses the moisture and the loss in vaaccum and throws it into limp mode.

Our cars are pretty sensitive to moisture to prevent hydrolock (especially with CAIs). Maybe yours is just far enough away from the MAF that the moisture doesn't really hit it hard.

blackonorange · 06-09-2012, 07:30 PM

Hmmm weird

ALTN8NRG · 06-13-2012, 12:23 PM

I think I had a similiar problem with my car. After having new exhaust installed, my car would rapidly rev and then die. Starting the car took a few attempts and then I couldn't go over 30 mphs. The problem stopped and I was able to drive normally. The check engine light remained lit. I took it to the dealer and they said it was the new exhaust and told me something about adjusting magnet-something-another. Anyway... they adjusted/calibrated/whatever for free.

dthem370 · 06-13-2012, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALTN8NRG

I think I had a similiar problem with my car. After having new exhaust installed, my car would rapidly rev and then die. Starting the car took a few attempts and then I couldn't go over 30 mphs. The problem stopped and I was able to drive normally. The check engine light remained lit. I took it to the dealer and they said it was the new exhaust and told me something about adjusting magnet-something-another. Anyway... they adjusted/calibrated/whatever for free.

That sounds exactly like what happened to mine except I had no check engine light on.

Its been a couple days and car is running great, wish I knew what the exact cause was for sure. Might wash my car again soon and see if the problem happens again.

JJ-NISMO · 06-15-2012, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dthem370

does anyone know how long our batteries are good for? I was thinking maybe the battery might be going bad. I have a 2009, anyone change their battery yet?

Dthem... You soaked your intake cones, but you are not hydrolocked. Take them off and let them dry out.

dthem370 · 06-16-2012, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ-NISMO

Dthem... I had the exact same issue. You soaked your intake cones, but you are not hydrolocked. Stop starting your engine and revving, etc because you will just pull water from the cones into the engine.

I have the AEM EFI intake, and after washing my car one day, with ZERO engine bay cleaning, my car would not start. I fired the engine, it bogged down, and died. It sounded like the car was suffocating. I pushed my car into my garage and got to work. I will tell you what I did to get my car working again.

Jack the front, remove the front bumper, and pull off the intake cones. After removing the intake cones, shake out ALL of the excess water, and then put them in front of a fan for a couple of hours to dry. While doing this, pull out your MAF sensors and make sure they are dry. Mine had gotten water on them, which caused the engine to misread the airflow. This, combined with the lack of air getting in from the soaked cones, is what is killing the engine.

Buy MAF cleaner from any auto parts store, spray the MAFs to clean off any residue that is messing with the computer, and let them dry. After everything is totally dry, replace the MAFS, cones, and fire the engine again. You may also want to reset your ECU by disconnecting the NEG battery terminal for ten minutes. If you do this, which I did, you will need to reset your auto up/down windows as well.

If everything is back to normal, put your bumper back on and go drive for a bit. Get the engine hot and let any excess water burn out.

I spent HOURS doing all of this, so be prepared to take it easy and let the engine dry out. It took me multiple starts, and multiple idling sessions to get the engine to a point where it would actually stay idling, and not bog down and die. Next time, be careful spraying your front wheels... I think this is what screwed us.

Also, but the foam pieces that prevent hydrolock.

Let me know if this helps.

Thanks a lot for the good info. I already cleaned out my air filters, MAFs and also decided to clean the throttle bodies and let everything dry out. The car is running great now. I also washed my car again yesterday to see if the problem would happen again and im all good.

06-07-2012, 09:44 PM	#16 (permalink)
MattP725 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2011 Location: Toms River, NJ Posts: 1,904 Drives: 2010 40th Rep Power: 17	If your car isn't starting and then sits and starts later it is NOT your battery... they don't regain charge on their own after sitting... it would only have gotten worse. The 3-4k rpm limit is called limp mode. It only takes a small amount of moisture on the MAF and filters to throw it into limp mode or affect the starting/driving... I had my car go into limp mode just because it sat outside in a heavy rain storm (no puddling of any severity). As others said, pull the bumper, reset the ECU and dry the filters/MAF and you should be golden. Last edited by MattP725; 06-07-2012 at 09:48 PM.

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06-08-2012, 01:33 PM	#17 (permalink)
dthem370 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 163 Drives: Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 16	Everything is working fine today. Seems like it must of been the water getting to the intake filters. Anyways I will be cleaning out the throttle bodies and MAF sensors today.

06-09-2012, 06:11 AM	#19 (permalink)
SmallermouseZ Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Vancouver Posts: 368 Drives: 2012pw 6mt sport/nav Rep Power: 14	Time to bring it back to the dealer to check it out?

06-09-2012, 06:59 PM	#21 (permalink)
blackonorange A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 1,078 Drives: 09 370z Rep Power: 16	U know what's wierd , I have the STs rear mount kit on my car drive in the rain all the time ( no rain sock on) and I've never had this problem , I think its your mafs

06-09-2012, 07:30 PM	#23 (permalink)
blackonorange A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 1,078 Drives: 09 370z Rep Power: 16	Hmmm weird

06-13-2012, 12:23 PM	#24 (permalink)
ALTN8NRG Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Northern VA Posts: 15 Drives: 2010 370Z M6 SIL Rep Power: 15	I think I had a similiar problem with my car. After having new exhaust installed, my car would rapidly rev and then die. Starting the car took a few attempts and then I couldn't go over 30 mphs. The problem stopped and I was able to drive normally. The check engine light remained lit. I took it to the dealer and they said it was the new exhaust and told me something about adjusting magnet-something-another. Anyway... they adjusted/calibrated/whatever for free.