[OpelAsconaBeast]

Can someone help me? I have an issue with my car.... I thought it would be a good idea to clean my car a little and I washed the engine...and after that it didn't want to start no more...I took it to the mechanics and they said it might be the distributor...but Someone else said it might be the alternator... don't know what to think no more... The symptoms are: When I try to start it it doesn't seem to have enough spark to start the engine, the battery isn't the problem. It just doesn't want to start even if I pull it with another car... Is it possible it might have malfunctioned...if by any chance water got in the distributor?

 

[Gary]

It sounds like either some water got in the distributor cap or a wire came loose or fell off when you cleaned it. Moisture or condensation could cause it not to start.

Check to see if you are getting spark out of the coil by removing the coil wire from the cap and let it rest near the engine. When you crank the engine over, you should see a spark jump to the engine.

 

[OpelAsconaBeast]

Thank you...

Well, I did all that...I didn't look at it tough...like open it...and look inside...but I got the coil cable out and did just that, and there is a spark...but it's kinda weak...

 

[bq97]

The most likely cause is water in the distributor like Gary said, it's quite common after spraying the engine down. Especially if the engine was warm before you sprayed it. Pop the distributor cap off and look inside it and the distibutor for water or condensation. If you find any blow air though it until the moisture is gone or just let it air dry. When you try and start it if it bucks like a misfire but tries to start you have spark jump in the cap due to the water. Another cause could be cracks in the plug and coil wires. Electric Current will always seek the path of least resistance to ground which will be through the cracks along the wet outsides to ground. Dry the wire would not give you any problems but increase the moisture content and it creates a short. I've also seen the coil dump it's voltage along a wet coil. If you find and water in the distributor look around the base of it for any openings. Bosch distributors sometimes have an opening on the side covered by a plastic plug, your's may be missing.

hth
Brian

 

[OpelAsconaBeast]

yeah...

yeah... haven't seen that... the plug is missing...why? What sould I do in this case...?!?!

 

[bq97]

No telling why the plug is missing. You can look for another or take a piece of duct tape and put it on the out side of the housing. Another way water can get in is around the vaccum canister and where the condenser wire enters the housing.

hth
Brian

 

[OpelAsconaBeast]

oh..ok!

So I'll duct tape...and do that. If I do that it will work afterwards? or just keep water from entering in it again? (I'm sorry if I get it so hard, but I'm not quite the mechanic...) I changed the wires completely... but same issue...
Some one said that if the alternator doesn't work, the engine won't start as well...

 

[bq97]

The tape will help keep out water and road debris but won't help you current situation. How long has it been since you hosed the engine down? Did you check for spark with a plug wire or from the coil wire? Just because the coil fires does not mean the spark will make it to the plugs.

hth Brian

 

[OpelAsconaBeast]

like 4 days now... I don't really know what is the coil wire or the plug wire... My english knowledge doesn't extend to technical side of it.
But i'm so happy you're hth ...

 

[bq97]

If it has been 4 days now the distributor would be dry. The condensation only last a few hours ay most. Check the see if you knocked any wires off. First place to look would be the wire on the negative side of the coil and the wire on the distributors condenser. Also pull on if the spark plug wires off the spark plug and see if you get a spark while someone else is starting the car. Be careful because the spark can shock you, better to use insulated pliers to hold the wire.

hth
Brian

 

[kwilford]

Some one said that if the alternator doesn't work, the engine won't start as well...

Nope. They are separate systems. So long as the engine cranks over fast enough (just related to battery charge and starter condition) and you have a functioning ignition system (coil is good, points and condenser functioning, rotor and cap not allowing arc'ing, ignition wires not too high resistance & not cracked, spark plugs not fouled and properly gapped), you WILL get spark. Your engine will run fine (for a time) without an alternator even in place

HTH