Help, Car won't start after wash! need ideas

jermdeez · 05-12-2008, 03:56 PM

so I washed it, right after it wouldn't start, battery tray was noticeable wet etc.. so i got most of the water out.....but it was turning over fine just not starting................

Then after letting it dry yesterday, and today Ive been trying to start it, with the help of the throttle I got it to start and it ran like crap (seemed flooded) forced it to idle for a bit and it ran better but cruise control light was flashing (i guess limp mode), then I drove it around the block and it seemed ok, besides cruise control it didnt run to poorly or anything.......but still it won't start again etc directly after.........still doesn't seem to be right............

Can't figure out, coil doesn't seem to be wet. any ideas.

***gametime36*** · 05-12-2008, 04:31 PM

Weird, im assuming this never happened before the wash? What MY you have?

***SOGSTI420*** · 05-12-2008, 04:36 PM

do you have an aftermarket intake?

***Szumita*** · 05-12-2008, 04:45 PM

yeah, have an intake?

water in it? MAF?

jermdeez · 05-12-2008, 04:56 PM

it seemed pretty dry and i uplugged and replugged the maf. 06, fp green, fmic, cobb sri 70mm..............should i pull the filter off and look in there? It's just never happened before, also have ewg. I reset batt, plugs look dry.......didn't seem to be misfiring when it went around the block.....something has to be wet but i can't figure out what....at this point ive tried cranking for days which is prob bad, im going to let it dry for a few more days and then if bad still tow to my shop like 40 miles away, ehh..........so any ideas are welcome

rs_wrx_sti · 05-12-2008, 05:15 PM

I see you got an FMIC, assuming the problem has something to do with washing the car, the water more than likely got in through the hood scoop.

jermdeez · 05-12-2008, 05:39 PM

yep just seems like it should have dried, nice and sunny out yest and today.

fourseasonsandles · 05-13-2008, 06:03 AM

This happened to me when I cleaned my engine bay 2 years ago. I didnt cover up the electric parts and it sputtered a bit on my first start up and died once. I let it dry for a while and since then, never had the same problem again. I just make sure to put foil on the electric parts before washing.

I would think if you let it dry for a while it will sort it self out. If not, their may be something more serious going on. Hope it works out!

Tortfeasor STi · 05-13-2008, 06:17 AM

Ya make sure it dries thoroughly or you may be getting a short somewhere. Maybe let the car sit in the sun with the hood up so engine bay water will evaporate quicker.

jermdeez · 05-13-2008, 10:55 AM

I'm a little worried. hood has been popped in sunshine since sunday afternoon. With the batt charger hooked up I got it to start again but it ran like crap and cruise control is blinking (limp mode), then after turning it off no start again.............i don't understand why it would have ran and stuff and then still be displaying the issues all from being wet, im guessing something got messed up

importfanatic17 · 05-13-2008, 11:01 AM

Did you wash the engine bay too? From the title, it seems like the hood was closed and you just washed the car.

Maybe the alternator got screwed if you checked the battery, maf, and coil packs...???

**04STiguy79** · 05-13-2008, 11:07 AM

sounds like it is def a electrical issue, check the fuses under the hood and in the car. Water might have gotten in the fuse panel.

jermdeez · 05-13-2008, 12:18 PM

yea the only water in ther woulda been thru the hood scoop, I did not wash my engine bay or at least that sure wasn't the intent. Never had this issue before, or with any of my other subies..........ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

can't afford the 500 to get it towed. Guess il just leave the piece of crap in my driveway........I mean I hope that this is because someone installed something faulty and it got wet/zapped........otherwise im going to be even angrier at the fact my subaru can't even handle a ****ing wash. Sti is more trouble than its worth at this point, i never even drive the damn thing.........pretty disappointing considering I put 25k on my wrx, 50k on my other sti, 30k on my 97 L beater, my bro put 30k on his wrx, and my pops has a hardly driven outback..........ive never had any bad problems except for this.

jermdeez · 05-15-2008, 01:15 PM

Ok guys. I had it towed to my shop and they fixed it within a couple hours without an app.

I feel special. Anyways my cam position sensor had been cracked and got a bunch of water in it, even yesterday (4 days after wash) when it was taken off it dumped a bunch of soapy water out...........

car runs great now...............yea!!11

importfanatic17 · 05-15-2008, 01:28 PM

Good to hear. That would have been pretty hard to guess on the Internet.

05-12-2008, 03:56 PM	#1
jermdeez Spec C Club Posts: 1,699 Join Date: Feb 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	Help, Car won't start after wash! need ideas so I washed it, right after it wouldn't start, battery tray was noticeable wet etc.. so i got most of the water out.....but it was turning over fine just not starting................ Then after letting it dry yesterday, and today Ive been trying to start it, with the help of the throttle I got it to start and it ran like crap (seemed flooded) forced it to idle for a bit and it ran better but cruise control light was flashing (i guess limp mode), then I drove it around the block and it seemed ok, besides cruise control it didnt run to poorly or anything.......but still it won't start again etc directly after.........still doesn't seem to be right............ Can't figure out, coil doesn't seem to be wet. any ideas. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

05-12-2008, 04:31 PM	#2
*gametime36* Iron Member Car: 2007 CGM STI Fav Mod: Extra thug sauce Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 270 Join Date: Aug 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Help, Car won't start after wash! need ideas Weird, im assuming this never happened before the wash? What MY you have?

05-12-2008, 04:36 PM	#3
*SOGSTI420* Platinum Member Car: CGM 06 WRX STI Fav Mod: 285/30-18 advan neovas on TE-37 Location: Fullerton, Orange County Posts: 62 Join Date: Nov 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Help, Car won't start after wash! need ideas do you have an aftermarket intake?

05-12-2008, 04:45 PM	#4
*Szumita* i eat cones Car: 08.5 GTI MKv Fav Mod: 18x8 Location: ma & ri Posts: 6,557 Join Date: Oct 2006 Trader Rating: (18)	Re: Help, Car won't start after wash! need ideas yeah, have an intake? water in it? MAF?

05-12-2008, 04:56 PM	#5
jermdeez Spec C Club Posts: 1,699 Join Date: Feb 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Help, Car won't start after wash! need ideas it seemed pretty dry and i uplugged and replugged the maf. 06, fp green, fmic, cobb sri 70mm..............should i pull the filter off and look in there? It's just never happened before, also have ewg. I reset batt, plugs look dry.......didn't seem to be misfiring when it went around the block.....something has to be wet but i can't figure out what....at this point ive tried cranking for days which is prob bad, im going to let it dry for a few more days and then if bad still tow to my shop like 40 miles away, ehh..........so any ideas are welcome

05-12-2008, 05:15 PM	#6
rs_wrx_sti Junior STI Driver Car: 07 GDB-G WRB STi Fav Mod: shift knob Location: SoCal Posts: 148 Join Date: Apr 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Help, Car won't start after wash! need ideas I see you got an FMIC, assuming the problem has something to do with washing the car, the water more than likely got in through the hood scoop.

05-12-2008, 05:39 PM	#7
jermdeez Spec C Club Posts: 1,699 Join Date: Feb 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Help, Car won't start after wash! need ideas yep just seems like it should have dried, nice and sunny out yest and today.

05-13-2008, 06:03 AM	#8
fourseasonsandles Silver Member Car: 06 CGM Wingless Fav Mod: The Newest One! Location: Ra cha cha NY Posts: 3,133 Join Date: Sep 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Help, Car won't start after wash! need ideas This happened to me when I cleaned my engine bay 2 years ago. I didnt cover up the electric parts and it sputtered a bit on my first start up and died once. I let it dry for a while and since then, never had the same problem again. I just make sure to put foil on the electric parts before washing. I would think if you let it dry for a while it will sort it self out. If not, their may be something more serious going on. Hope it works out!

05-13-2008, 06:17 AM	#9
Tortfeasor STi S204 Racer Car: '08 335xi Coupe Fav Mod: Dinan Reflash Location: Princeton, NJ Posts: 3,461 Join Date: Aug 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Help, Car won't start after wash! need ideas Ya make sure it dries thoroughly or you may be getting a short somewhere. Maybe let the car sit in the sun with the hood up so engine bay water will evaporate quicker.

05-13-2008, 10:55 AM	#10
jermdeez Spec C Club Posts: 1,699 Join Date: Feb 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Help, Car won't start after wash! need ideas I'm a little worried. hood has been popped in sunshine since sunday afternoon. With the batt charger hooked up I got it to start again but it ran like crap and cruise control is blinking (limp mode), then after turning it off no start again.............i don't understand why it would have ran and stuff and then still be displaying the issues all from being wet, im guessing something got messed up

05-13-2008, 11:01 AM	#11
importfanatic17 Spec C Club Car: '05 Aspen White STi Fav Mod: EQ Tuning tune Location: Sacramento, Ca Posts: 1,760 Join Date: Apr 2007 Trader Rating: (5)	Re: Help, Car won't start after wash! need ideas Did you wash the engine bay too? From the title, it seems like the hood was closed and you just washed the car. Maybe the alternator got screwed if you checked the battery, maf, and coil packs...???

05-13-2008, 11:07 AM	#12
04STiguy79 Gold Member Car: 04 Platnm Silvr STi Fav Mod: GT35R 450+WHP Pump No Meth Location: MD,BASC Club,Team Agile Posts: 759 Join Date: May 2007 Trader Rating: (4)	Re: Help, Car won't start after wash! need ideas sounds like it is def a electrical issue, check the fuses under the hood and in the car. Water might have gotten in the fuse panel.

05-13-2008, 12:18 PM	#13
jermdeez Spec C Club Posts: 1,699 Join Date: Feb 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Help, Car won't start after wash! need ideas yea the only water in ther woulda been thru the hood scoop, I did not wash my engine bay or at least that sure wasn't the intent. Never had this issue before, or with any of my other subies..........ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh can't afford the 500 to get it towed. Guess il just leave the piece of crap in my driveway........I mean I hope that this is because someone installed something faulty and it got wet/zapped........otherwise im going to be even angrier at the fact my subaru can't even handle a ***ing wash. Sti is more trouble than its worth at this point, i never even drive the damn thing.........pretty disappointing considering I put 25k on my wrx, 50k on my other sti, 30k on my 97 L beater, my bro put 30k on his wrx, and my pops has a hardly driven outback..........ive never had any bad problems except for this. Last edited by jermdeez : 05-13-2008 at 04:28 PM.*

05-15-2008, 01:15 PM	#14
jermdeez Spec C Club Posts: 1,699 Join Date: Feb 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Help, Car won't start after wash! need ideas Ok guys. I had it towed to my shop and they fixed it within a couple hours without an app. I feel special. Anyways my cam position sensor had been cracked and got a bunch of water in it, even yesterday (4 days after wash) when it was taken off it dumped a bunch of soapy water out........... car runs great now...............yea!!11

05-15-2008, 01:28 PM	#15
importfanatic17 Spec C Club Car: '05 Aspen White STi Fav Mod: EQ Tuning tune Location: Sacramento, Ca Posts: 1,760 Join Date: Apr 2007 Trader Rating: (5)	Re: Help, Car won't start after wash! need ideas Good to hear. That would have been pretty hard to guess on the Internet. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.