Need to fix something around the house/car? Ask here.

[scavengers_paradise]

This is a place to come if you need help repairing or installing something around your house.  I'm no expert, but I've been fixing stuff since I was a kid and have gotten pretty good at it.  Just last night I stripped an all in one printer down to find and repair a faulty paper jam switch.  I do it all - when it breaks: plumbing, electrical, things.  I've installed ceiling fans, thermostats, faucets, electrical outlets, cable outlets, repaired AC handlers and compressors, garage door openers, and lots more stuff I can't think of.  I've also done a number of auto repairs/installs too numerous to list.  In this thread we can draw on everyone's knowledge and experience.

Go.

[coffee yeahh]

You still doing this?

[whirlwind]

**Hand Up - Jumping Up AND DOWN!!!!!**
S10 Pickup (about 1998) had miss shortly after buying. Had tuneup in March, consisting of new plugs, wires, distributor and button, oil change. After a month, truck began to have a miss... continues now, rougher.

Major rain came couple months ago, didn't want to crank. Starter would turn over, thats it. Eventually ran battery down.

Hauled to garage via wrecker (vehicle major tilt.) Garage said looked like flooded plugs via gas, dried them off, said I gave it too much gas - mfah. It started. Truck wasn't driven thru rain, flood, etc - only water was via hood, ground evaporation.

Month later, heavy rain again. Starter turned, wouldn't crank. Called wrecker, noticed more water than seemed to be in bed ran out of truck. Different wrecker, picked up truck from different end.

Got to garage, tried to crank, not quite, but more than before wrecker haul. Next morning (sunny), cranked. Previous codes had showed, not now. No remedy, still not fixed.

Rain came, now placed on ramps on rear, hood and cab covered with plastic. Started, barely, but obvious better result than previous.

Suggested at last garage was possible issue with ground wire - unsure, cannot locate nor determine exact issue. Fuel pump was replaced app. Feb. 08, but tank wasn't emptied.

So... after rain, been hauled to different garages, once to each. Didn't start that day, but would the next. Both wreckers tilted truck with substantial liquid drainage.

[sel999]

Liquid drainage? From where?

Ask Handyandy- he's the resident mechanic here.

[jodan3399]

I've got a 94.

Did they check the coil? Shorting out maybe in the wet weather?

Moisture collecting under the cap?
Maybe trace the wire to the starter and make sure it's got a good connection.

You didn't run it dry on gas at any time?

Handyandy would be able to think of more I'm sure, getting rusty at this stuff as I get older. 

 

[whirlwind]

Friend of mine loaned me the bux to put it back in the garage, they said the distributor was cracked, so had it replaced.

Know the issue still isn't resolved. It still has a bit of hesitation when I crank it - I can tell, when it rains, its going to be the same story all over again.

Don't think the coil has been checked, tho the garage never said. Never ran it out of gas, tho have ran it low a time or two.

Not sure about the drainage. Just happen to notice when the wrecker picked it up, seemed like more water ran out of it, than was in the bed. Wasn't behind it at the time to actually verify if it was coming from somewhere other than the bed... it has a liner on it, keep meaning to take it off. Probably holding water under it.

[jodan3399]

Drainage could be normal. Amazed some days at the amount of water mine holds after a heavy rain, try to park it on a slope when I can. But seal off the tailgate and my kid could have a pool.

Doesn't sound fuel related, since it's not a constant thing (runs fine when dry). So I'd suspect something getting wet and shorting out.

You can always get a nice dry day and go out and aim a hose at it, that might give you a better idea of where you're getting moisture and if it's going someplace it shouldn't.

[Zenderella]

Friend of mine loaned me the bux to put it back in the garage, they said the distributor was cracked, so had it replaced.

Know the issue still isn't resolved. It still has a bit of hesitation when I crank it - I can tell, when it rains, its going to be the same story all over again.

Don't think the coil has been checked, tho the garage never said. Never ran it out of gas, tho have ran it low a time or two.

Not sure about the drainage. Just happen to notice when the wrecker picked it up, seemed like more water ran out of it, than was in the bed. Wasn't behind it at the time to actually verify if it was coming from somewhere other than the bed... it has a liner on it, keep meaning to take it off. Probably holding water under it.

I was just about to say that sounds like a cracked distributer cap.

[dewan]

1. It is possible, but very rare, to get a bad sparkplug brand new out of the box.
2. Cover the coil with something to keep water off. Cut three inches off the bottom of an orange juice 1/2 gallon.
3. Permatex Flowable Silicone Windshield & Glass Sealer on the wires will protect them from moisture for a very long time.