car runs really bad after rain

[97gsx_zeclipse]

On non-rainy days my car will drive perfectly fine. Every time it rains my car runs like crap. Three different times I needed to drive my car and so happens that I drove them after it rained. Car would start up and have really bad idle, then when i drive and get to a certain mph the car starts to vibrate and shake. One time I drove the car and it would only drive for about 20 feet and the car would shut off and turn back on, and 20 feet more the same thing. I really don't understand what can be the problem. My car looks like everyone elses car. The only thing I can thik of that can get wet is the intake in the left corner under the hood. I noticed that my head lights are also getting that moisture look inside too so maybe water might be to the intake. By the way I have a 97 gsx. Any ideas?

 

[ZmanIV]

Your MAF may be getting wet and fouling, What air filter are you running?

Sorry I just read your profile I see you have a K&N filter.
Why are you complaining it hardly ever rains in SD.
If you have many more problems try contacting sdturbo on the sddsm.org website

 

[97gsx_zeclipse]

Oh I just moved to Colorado. It's only rained three times so far but I really want to fix it before winter. Should I make like a cover for the intake?

 

[c4uldr0n]

You could make an "enclosed" box/shield similar to an OEM setup. This would help with water and air intake temps. Here is a link: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194759

 

[caspers_dsm]

Ever thought to check your plugs wires? If any of them has so much as a split, moisture will reak havoc. I am willing to bet that is your problem.

Let us know what you find, i am curious as to what it is.

 

[1slo1g]

i would check that plug wire idea too that happen to my old civic

 

[bucknasty88]

Sounds like a problem I had, be sure to check all your sensors to see if they are getting wet sounds like somehow somewhere a sensor is getting exposed to the rain.

 

[ZmanIV]

yea I forgot to mention plug wires, I used to have a ford escort and whenever it would rain/ high humidity it would look like a lightning show under the hood.

 

[RMeadows]

My car does this all the time, but that's because i'm running a MAF-T

Hoefully when I relocate the translator to inside the cabin and install DSMlink it will go away

 

[Patter$on]

My car does this all the time, but that's because i'm running a MAF-T

Hoefully when I relocate the translator to inside the cabin and install DSMlink it will go away

What helped my eclipse with maf-t damp weather running problems was one of those filter covers, not sure of real name but they are kind of like a bag that wraps around your air filter and keep water out.

 

[97gsx_zeclipse]

I'm guessing its the intake. I checked everything and the filter was kind of moist and the mass air flow sensor looked like it had water rust on it. It was like a rust color or orange brownish. I got the mass airflow sensor cleaner. I'll use that tomorrow. Where can I get one of those intake covers? I've seen those before. Looks kind of cool. I was always hesitant to getting one of those for I would guess, it would restrict air flow. I'll keep you guys updated.

 

[RMeadows]

What helped my eclipse with maf-t damp weather running problems was one of those filter covers, not sure of real name but they are kind of like a bag that wraps around your air filter and keep water out.

After reading a few threads it seems that the main problem is those of us running a lot of boost suck a little water up into the ic pipe and it gets the little wires inside the MAF wet causing an extremely rich condition. Your solution would probably work, though simply not boosting in the rain, or turning the boost down should provide the same solution. I'll have to do some testing and see what works.

 

[Patter$on]

It doesn't take running alot of boost to do this. I have seen it happen at 16psi on a 16g. Some also claim that you can set up the maf-t a certain way so the condensation doesn't touch the wires.

 

[97gsx_zeclipse]

I'm running 16 psi on a stock t-25. You can suck water through the ic piping? I'm guessing if that were the case then you would have a boost leak right? Just a guess.

 

[RMeadows]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143895

Post 6

Another common issue is when even days or weeks after driving in heavy rain, you still get this stumbling issue under boost. The FMIC is the lowest point in your intake piping, so water can accumulate there. At high airflow/boost, the fast moving air will carry some water through the piping to the sensor making the AFR go very rich. You can also see airflow signal shootup if you have access to it. This happend on a friends car coming back from the SO. A week later, he found a gallon of water in the FMIC So if the problem isnt going away, check the piping and IC. (sidemount may have similar effect)

 

[97gsx_zeclipse]

I still don't understand how water gets into the fmic. Can you explain please. If the pipes are air tight, how does water get into it? What I did was make one of those intake boxes made out of sheet metal. Looks clean too. I also made a seal around the engine with a foam sealant. So rain or moisture doesn't get into the seams on the sides of the hood. Where can I get one of those intake bags to keep out moisture?I cleaned out the mass airflow sensor with the cleaner for it. It was super dirty. Car runs fine. Now I wait till it rains and see if that helps haha.

 

[Boo5t_Addict]

The water gets sucked through the air filter, and when it goes through the compressor wheel and through the piping, it hits the intercooler and accumulates at the bottom. The intercooler can act as a trap in this case to hold most of the moisture until it builds up. You could try unhooking your intercooler and holding it up to see if any water runs out the endtank.

 

[Patter$on]

Somehow condensation/moisture gets in the pipes and if it makes contact with the maft "wires" than you get the stumbling.

It sounds stupid, but it does happen. Also one can try to remove the moisture by doing 1-10+ foot down pulls to clear the moisture up. It seems the easier you are on the car the more moisture that builds up so if you rip on it a few times it will usually clear up.

The filter wrap is called a K&N drycharger or outterware.

 

[97gsx_zeclipse]

Wow, thanks for clearing that up. I never knew that it can do that. So I'm guessing its really going to get bad during the winter?

 

[ZmanIV]

Look at what I just found.
http://members.shaw.ca/dsm.1000q/Engineprimer/2G/cas.htm

 

[DJYoshaBYD]

ok... nobody mentioned this, but water should not be getting up in there... at least not so much that it causes your filter to get wet..

try sealing your hood area.. I mean, think about it... water should not be leaking in there, but because it is, you are going to cover up inside parts, that normally wouldnt need it... try sealing the hood area first, just to get the moisture out of the engine compartment, not just the filter... you will total your CAS and MAF if you let it get in there...

ooo yeah. and FOR SURE check the spark plug wires first... I had the SAME THING happen to my old integra durring really rainy days... it was because of a split plug wire that was getting wet... o yea.. dont touch them while the cars running.. the shock will knock your di*k in the dirt... I made that mistake once.... ONCE..