Car hesitates in the rain

[johnnyo]

What can it be? the engine hesitates in moderate rain, when I open rear hood all appears dry?? the cap was removed also dry, the only thing I can think of at this time is somehow water moisture is being drawn the intake when driving at higher speeds higher cfm intake, should I check the air filter to see if wet? The wires and cap/rotor were recently changed, Remember upon visual inspection the engine area was dry, I also tried spraying the wires with silicone where accessible, should I look under the hood at night to see if there are issues of bad wires? Thanks, Johnny O

[emac]

John
Even though you have a new cap I think you have a hair line crack in it. Try spraying WD 40 inside the cap and run the car. If she runs good that is your problem. You cannot see the crack and this is classic if what I described

[johnnyo]

Once I spray the inside of the cap do I let it air dry prior to reinstalling the cap? Do I spray then wipe the inside of the cap? or do I just spray it and install it, does the WD40 cause any shorting in the cap? Thanks

[ZOA NOM]

If you have Clewett wires, you should read this thread. Otherwise, looking around the valve covers in dark conditions can expose arcing that indicates bad wires. I had a bad plug that was giving me a slight miss.

[johnnyo]

That may be my problem, Had the car towed 2 weeks ago, barely made it home today, I read the thread, I bought these about a year ago to replace my other Clewetts that were also giving me a bad time during rain or bad humidity, boy how improbable is it to have two bad sets in 2 years, I thought it was only a few people having these issues, also I replaced my cap and rotor 3 times in the last 2 years, I woudhave been way ahead of the game if I had realized there was a problem specific to the Clewetts and went with OEM, Oh well live and learn, Thanks Zoanas for the heads up, I wonder what Clewett can do? I think I'll just go with OEM at this point, I want to feel secure again driving the car, Johnny O

[ZOA NOM]

Dave Clewett fixed the problem by sealing the boot ends with silicone, which, in my opinion, only delays the issue. The heat sheath is inside the boot, which wicks moisture in there. I would recommend carefully trimming the sheath back from the boot and then sealing the ends.

As for alternatives, check out Kingsborne.com . They made me a set of color matched wires with the screw-on M3 ends crimped on the wires and separators for about $100. I just re-used my Beru plug ends and dizzy boots. I love them so far.

[emac]

John
If you want to pat the inside with a paper towel go ahead, I usually just spray it and shake the cap a little and put her back. Again if the miss goes away get a new cap

[johnnyo]

thanks Ernie, I'll give that a try, but at this point I'm leaning towards the Clewett wires being the issue, I just put on an old set of OEM wires that I borrowed from a friend and guess what no rain issues so far, the Clewetts are going in the trash for the second time, and in the past 2 years I went through 3 distributor caps, 1 tow 15 miles away $$$, and all around aggravation and always planning my extended trips when I know its not going to rain, not a way to enjoy the P-car, just glad I finally discovered the source of the issues,

[ZOA NOM]

It's too bad, really. The Clewetts are nice wires. The design was simply flawed. All they needed to do was remove the heat shield from inside the boots. Glad to have helped, and I highly recommend the Kinsborne's.

[johnnyo]

Thanks so much Zoanas, just went out again in the rain and started the car with no issues, hasn't run this good in the rain for a long time, Johnny O