Car wont start after washing Huh ?

[How2]

Greetings;

Yesterday I washed my 86, 911. Simple soap and garden hose.
The car hoods were closed, no engine spraying.

Now it wont start..

Something in the electrical system is seriously exposed. Normally water in the distributor after engine washing is the culprit. I suspect there are specific connectors that are getting wet.

Anyone had this problem? What is the fix?

thanks

[Nick Triesch]

Sometimes water gets in the electrical parts. Take off dis cap and blow with a hair drier. Happened to old VW's a lot.

[patz]

Wash it while it is running next time, duh.

[tkmoore]

Can you expand on what you mean by wont start? Does it turn over but just not fire up, fail to turn over at all, etc.

[300cd300sdl911]

So yeah this happens on my 85. Don't have a fix for you but now I just open the hood and cover the engine with a waterproof fabric so it won't get wet. And yes I forgot to remove the fabric once and then had to pull it out of the fan. Don't do that. I'm sure it will start once it gets dry.

[RSBob]

Originally Posted by patz

Wash it while it is running next time, duh.

Helpful yet terribly condescending. Attention all women, RUN!

[How2]

Per the ask on the clarification:

Motor will turn, but will not start.

Btw this once happened in the winter after a big rain. So I suspect the problem has to do with some connector(s) near the hatch air inlet.
Distributor cap has intact insulation and is dry.

H2

[SpyderMike]

Water would hit my spark plug wires and weep between wire and boot. The result was a short which made my car very hard to start and would run poorly if it started. I put red rtv in that Sean on each plug and cured my problem. Mine is a 1985.