shat the bed

bulachip · 07-31-2005, 05:01 PM

So I just got the ac syestem fixed and every time I go around a left turn water squirts out from under the passenger's side dash bord hitting my passenger's feet. I did not think that it was a big deal it was only like 4oz or so each time and I have rubber mats so it was simple on my list of things to fix.... Well today I am on my way to the beach and we stop to get gas and then begin driving again and all of a sudden the car simply cuts out. So I pull over and it will not turn over. I pop the hood and there is a little smoke comming from the fan where the windshield meets the motor in the center but that seems to be it. Also the passenger side under the dash is very wet!! So I think I perhaps shortted something under there. At first the ac and stero would still work but and the interior lights would come on and the guages would flicker back and forth but then about 30 min later when I tried to start the car again everything is dead. Thank god for AAA!!! Please if anybudy has any advice that would be great. I took out the mats and am hoping to dry it out then jump start it and cross my fingers!!

carsonmx114 · 07-31-2005, 05:10 PM

sounds like your airbox drain tube is stopped up, and that's the good news. your dme control unit is under the piece of wood under the passenger footwell. water and computers don't get along, check and see if the engine still has spark and if the fuel pump runs after you bump the starter, if not your in the market for a control unit.

yieldsign2 · 08-01-2005, 08:00 AM

DME shouldn't be on the passenger floor on an 83 as i understand, carson..

bulachip · 08-01-2005, 09:39 AM

then where is it?

bulachip · 08-01-2005, 09:40 AM

is this something that if I let dry it will start working again?
If not where should I start?

Rmills944 · 08-01-2005, 09:51 AM

He's right, the pre 85.5 has the DME under the dash below the strreing column. Look up above the driver's feet and you'll see it.

carsonmx114 · 08-01-2005, 06:35 PM

my bad, i learn something new everyday. and maybe that's good news for his car.

Patrick-87-944 · 08-02-2005, 10:48 AM

Start from the top and check the 4 gottahaves to make a motor work fire, fuel air and control (DME). that way you can start to figure out what the problem is.

bulachip · 08-02-2005, 01:07 PM

Now that everything has dried out is it going to hurt anything if i try to jump start it??

Patrick-87-944 · 08-02-2005, 01:10 PM

I don't know...a shorted wire someplace could cause a fire now that everything is dry. but you have to start someplace.

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

every time I go around a left turn

Just quit taking left turns. Problem solved.

sorry, weak attempt at humor

carsonmx114 · 08-02-2005, 07:31 PM

this may be a long shot but maybe the problem is something else altogether, not the water but maybe a connection problem that was agravated by the extra aperage of the a/c running. didn't you say that the car would turn over then it wouldn't, and the radio worked and then it wouldn't. maybe a more simple problem like a ground cable or even a battery terminal.

livewirevoodoo · livewirevoodoo's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by carsonmx114
sounds like your airbox drain tube is stopped up

Where is the airbox drain tube? first i've heard of it...

mattdavis11 · 08-03-2005, 08:44 AM

The A/C drain tube is behind the passenger side front wheel on a Left-Hand drive 944. If that clogs, you will have a passenger with wet feet after the A/C has been on for some time. A stout weed eater line is what I use to clean all my drain tubes.

Now to the original question. I don't think I have the answer, but the fan you describe is your fresh air/ heater fan, the early cars have two. It sounds like you may have a shorted wire, and or bad ground. I would venture to guess that the main ground is not making a good connection.

bulachip · 08-03-2005, 01:49 PM

This may be a stupid question but where can I find the ground wires in question here. Either the main ground wire. Or the fresh air fan ground wire. And how should I test to see if they are the problem?

Also do you guys think that the DME is OK? I just want to know where to start!!!

carsonmx114 · 08-03-2005, 03:52 PM

i'm wondering if the smoke you saw was just humidity from the air box being flooded with water. did you smell anything burning? as far as connections my car is a 86 and there is a body ground right next to the battery that when loose will make the gauges do funny things. i'd just start at the battery and work your way to the engine. on the positive post my car has several wires that connect to the terminal that power everything in the car, the big wire goes to the starter.

bulachip · 08-04-2005, 04:15 PM

I am going to try to jump start her tonight I will let you fellas know how it goes

bulachip · 08-05-2005, 07:10 AM

Good News!!! She started when jumped started but now when I put the AC on it only blows out under the passenger side dash board not out of the vents. Why do you think this is? Could I have shorted out the main blower? Also how do I unclog my airbox drain tube? Where is it?

Thanks a ton!

carsonmx114 · 08-05-2005, 04:01 PM

i'm not sure on the older style dash, but some systems rest at the heater/defrost positions and require vacuum to operate doors in the airbox divert the air to the vents. i think my car has a electric servo motor, yours may have a cable, i don't know. the drain should be at the lowest point on the airbox and passing through the firewall down low. that's one thing i've never had go wrong with my car, but i've had drain problems with vw's over the years and just removed the tube altogether to clean it out real good. someone else suggested a piece of wire i think.

bulachip · 08-08-2005, 07:41 AM

This may be a stupid question but where is the Airbox? and what does it look like?