What's new
By:
TurboTransAm.com

Register today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

car wont start at car wash!!

jarredsoon

jarredsoon

Gold Member
Hi everyone. My tta just had a new motor put in and now wont start after washing it at the car wash. It ran fine when it came out of the shop with new motor for a few days now and now won;t start.

I washed pretty thoroughly on the out side but never on the inside or under the hood.

Any one have any ideas as to why, right now I am at home hoping that what ever got wet will dry and I can start it soon. I have to go back and try, if it doesn't??....... will have to tow it back to the shop??

Thanks, Jarred.
 
SO ya, I went back to the car wash after going home for about an hour and my car started just fine, ran a little shaky and then very smooth at about 1000 rpm.
I let it run and then reved the motor a few times, all seemed well. I put it into drive and then moved forward half a foot and it stalled. NOw it wont start again. WTF??
 
ya it cranks over but wont start, so I leave it for an hour then it starts and then stalls as soon as i put it into gear????
 
OK so I let my car sit for about an hour and then it started and then I let it idle. I put it into gear and step on the gas and it would stall. Ahhhh.... so then I tried and tried and it started again. so this time I let it idle, then put it into gear and did not step on the gas. So then i idle'd it home and when I rev the motor up to about 2500 rpm it begins to choke and hesitate. But at a higher or lower rpm it does not choke and runs just fine? Is this a timing issue b/c it runs fine at ilde of 1000 rpm.

So what do you guys think??
 
Thats a tough one. Coil pack might have checked out or going or the module. Like Jason said water can get into some crazy places. Maybe take the MAF off and have a look in there for any water residue or moisture. Pop a few spark plugs out. Also could even be you have a leak in the windshield or t tops and some water might have found it's way into the ECM. Keep trouble shooting and keep us posted!
 
Maybe some water got onto the air filter and got sucked in. Happened to me before. Next would be the coil pack. Maybe it was just a fluke and its your tps sensor. These are easy to test.
 
Yep, I'm with Chris. I'd test the the TPS sensor, this sensor if bad can cause exactly what you describe. Happened to me just last fall. If it's loose at all it will screw up idle and can cause it to idle then die.
 
There was a recall on the TTA's right after I got mine. Had to do with water and stalling. I have that information stored in my car if anyone missed that.

Suitcase Sally
 
Suitcase_Sally said:
There was a recall on the TTA's right after I got mine. Had to do with water and stalling. I have that information stored in my car if anyone missed that.

Suitcase Sally
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure what you're talking about is the problem with water sitting in the intake canister. There was a TSB about it and they were just supposed to drill a drain hole in the canister. That's the only TSB that I can remember for these cars that was ever released.
 
72firebird, you may be right. Seems like it had something to do with drilling a hole. I'll go to the garage and see if I can dig up the info.
 
Yep, you're right.

"Poor engine performance of 3.8L Turbos in the 1989 20th Anniversary Trans Am models may be attributable to a water saturated air cleaner filter element.

In certain situations, water may follow the left fender flange to a hole(location A, figure 1), drip onto snorkel-to-housing seam (location B, figure 1) and seep into the air cleaner housing.

To correct the condition use the following procedures:

1. Seal the snorkel-to-housing seam (location B, figure 1) with RTV sealer or equivalent.

2. Drill 1/16" drain holes in the bottom of the lower air cleaner housing at locations indicated in Figure 1."

There is a diagram to illustrate where to drill the holes (2 Holes) but I don't have the means to draw it.
 
If you can / want, copy or send me that bulletin and I'll scan and post it on the tech area of the board for all to see and enjoy! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top