Jughead mistake!!!! now what??

This is a terrible mistake I learned the hard way. That crud water will corrode your beautiful engine. After a week it will look like the car was a flood salvage. Don't ever wash your engine compartment at a car wash.

I took my 89 Jetta out for "splashing" one day when it rained really big, drove into a big pool of water just to see really amazing splashes (sorry, I'm always a kid when driving my Jetta).

And, the engine idle started going crazy after that, and the engine stopped. I had to pull over. Then, the car won't start, it sputtered, but won't start. I thought, okay, now I'm screwed. After the rain stopped (about 2 hours or so later), I went back, and, hey, it started right away. Seems like the water got into something, but dried out enough for it to regain itself.

Hopefully you'll be lucky too.

David

I had a friend who details cars and he sprayed my Jetta's 16v engine down pretty good. After that it refused to start for nealy 2 days. Only time will help your Jetta start. Be patient if u can.

I must have missed the part where your post was in any way helpful. You put the ASS in assume, though.

I must agree with Giambi.. I don't see any part of your post that was helpful. All you do is make the ASSumption that the man doesn't take care of his car & that's what cause the problem. If anyone's a moron here it's YOU!!

-- Go out and make it a good day! "DH"

My name is tj and i have a 1998 jetta which I love & work on very much. I saw your posting on newsgroups and I thought I'd give you my advice. It seems I am having the same problem as you my friend. It only happens at really heavy rains or when I drove through a puddle one time. My engine would hesitate and then die out on me. I contacted the VW dealership here in town, and i told them the situation and they in turn said that I needed to get a water bottle w/ sprayer and lightly spray the plug wires & igniton wires to look for arcing. Well i did this too my plug wires and nothing happened, But when I did this too the ignition coil it started arcing and the engine sputtered and died. I cannot locate any cracks, however the 4 metal rods that hold the coil away from the firewall did not like the water. I plan on putting some light epoxy on those corners. I hope this might be some help too you. TJ

My CDN$0.03...I'd use diethyl ether to clean contacts--it's commonly sold as diesel engine starter fluid. Always keep a bottle handy and away from flames! Great to test for a vacuum leak as well.

Darryl.

Well, I got a ride back to my car this morn (after a long weekend). Thankfully the wheels were still on it and the gas tank was still full....and the engine was sparkling clean! The car started after 2 tries and ran rough for about 1/2 of the day, otherwise no worse for wear. Thanks for all posts...even those ones slagging Peter P.

Chris Burns