I'm not sure if this is totally a car audio related question. However, whenever it has been raining all day or night and my car has been sitting in the driveway, when I start it up and drive my car has poor acceleration and surges a bit when under 2500RPM and it also idles rough (RPM hopping up and down) I know this sound like more of a mechanical question but I noticed once at stop light that when I turned my stereo off the idle wasn't as shaky. I don't have a big system, just a 12" Alpine Type S powered by a Rockford Fosgate 201s Punch amp (600w 275Rms) also I'm using an 8ga wiring kit.
Any thoughts or comments on this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Murph
Replies (5)
Murph on 03/29/2004 16:23:48
Oh yah I drive a 1993 Plymouth Acclaim 3.0 V6
SUBTROY1 on 03/30/2004 02:36:32
Hmm, moisture problem getting to something maybe. Does it run well otherwise? Just and idea, check your distributor cap for cracks. Don't go replacing it if it's not broken, just a thought.
Troy
carbudgetaudio.com
swez on 03/30/2004 05:09:37
This sounds like electrical issues under the hood. Spark plug wires OLD? If yes, yank em and install new wires and plugs.
Also, inspect the high energy ignition system too. If this car has an older style distributor cap with rotor and magnetic pickup system, may be a good idea to replace these as well. When they get old, they pick up moisture and engine can idle rough, poor performance and engine can stumble and miss. (plug wires leaking, nicked or arcing to ground) Very common and easy to repair.
Go back and listen to your exhaust when engine is running. If you hear misses (sputtering or putting noises) most likely a problem in the primary ignition system... wires, plugs or distributor/coil problems.
While your at it, pull the PCV valve and give it a good shake. You should hear a metalic rattle. If not, it's clogged and can be cleaned with Gumout carb cleaning spray. When it rattles freely as you shake it, good to go and reinstall.
Swez
PS Oil, engine fluids and road grime often build up on wires and create electrical problems. I go to the power wash every few months and give the engine a good bath. Then you can see things better and if you have to go in and wrench... cleaner hands, cleaner tools, easier to see where you're going etc.
If the car won't start easily after the bath, you have some issues to tend to. Bring a few rags and tools to pull the disty cap... wipe it and wires dry. Then it should start and run fine when the engine warms up and dries out the electricals. If you have good electricals... it should start and run fine w/o any extra work.
Murph on 03/30/2004 09:10:05
Thanks Swez,
I havn't replaced my spark plugs or wires for about a year and a half to two years ago and when I did I didn't need a new distributor cap. So I'll give that a look after work today.
Also, I was raining all last night and pouring this morning on the way to work and it was running fine with out the stereo on but when I turned it on it shudderd for a few seconds then it was fine the rest of the way.
If its nice this weekend I think that I will change my spark plugs/wires and take a look a dist. cap. I'll let you know how it goes.
Murph
swez on 03/30/2004 14:32:29
Run the engine a while til warm, then shut off and spray engine and distributor with water. Wait til dark and then start. Look under the hood for arcing or listen for sparking "snaps".
If the engine does not want to start, pull the D-Cap and inpect for moisture. If you see ANY condensation... REPLACE THE ROTOR CAP AND ROTOR !!! It's not seated or sealing well enough.
If you need to drive the car after this test, get out a hair dryer and blow off all moisture in D-Cap and assy. If you found wire arcing, pull that wire away from grounded engine metal for now and wipe with rag til all wires are dry. Any wires that have nicks or imperfections are suspect. This is especially true cheaper wires or wires in a harness or conduit bundle near the engine block.
Swez
PS I has a similar problem last Fall on my Trofeo'. Wires were <2 years old, but one had a bad spot in a harness conduit. Would have never found it had I not removed all wires. (chaffing of insulator was root cause of problem)
Any thoughts or comments on this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Murph
Replies (5)
Murph on 03/29/2004 16:23:48
Oh yah I drive a 1993 Plymouth Acclaim 3.0 V6
SUBTROY1 on 03/30/2004 02:36:32
Hmm, moisture problem getting to something maybe. Does it run well otherwise? Just and idea, check your distributor cap for cracks. Don't go replacing it if it's not broken, just a thought.
Troy
carbudgetaudio.com
swez on 03/30/2004 05:09:37
This sounds like electrical issues under the hood. Spark plug wires OLD? If yes, yank em and install new wires and plugs.
Also, inspect the high energy ignition system too. If this car has an older style distributor cap with rotor and magnetic pickup system, may be a good idea to replace these as well. When they get old, they pick up moisture and engine can idle rough, poor performance and engine can stumble and miss. (plug wires leaking, nicked or arcing to ground) Very common and easy to repair.
Go back and listen to your exhaust when engine is running. If you hear misses (sputtering or putting noises) most likely a problem in the primary ignition system... wires, plugs or distributor/coil problems.
While your at it, pull the PCV valve and give it a good shake. You should hear a metalic rattle. If not, it's clogged and can be cleaned with Gumout carb cleaning spray. When it rattles freely as you shake it, good to go and reinstall.
Swez
PS Oil, engine fluids and road grime often build up on wires and create electrical problems. I go to the power wash every few months and give the engine a good bath. Then you can see things better and if you have to go in and wrench... cleaner hands, cleaner tools, easier to see where you're going etc.
If the car won't start easily after the bath, you have some issues to tend to. Bring a few rags and tools to pull the disty cap... wipe it and wires dry. Then it should start and run fine when the engine warms up and dries out the electricals. If you have good electricals... it should start and run fine w/o any extra work.
Murph on 03/30/2004 09:10:05
Thanks Swez,
I havn't replaced my spark plugs or wires for about a year and a half to two years ago and when I did I didn't need a new distributor cap. So I'll give that a look after work today.
Also, I was raining all last night and pouring this morning on the way to work and it was running fine with out the stereo on but when I turned it on it shudderd for a few seconds then it was fine the rest of the way.
If its nice this weekend I think that I will change my spark plugs/wires and take a look a dist. cap. I'll let you know how it goes.
Murph
swez on 03/30/2004 14:32:29
Run the engine a while til warm, then shut off and spray engine and distributor with water. Wait til dark and then start. Look under the hood for arcing or listen for sparking "snaps".
If the engine does not want to start, pull the D-Cap and inpect for moisture. If you see ANY condensation... REPLACE THE ROTOR CAP AND ROTOR !!! It's not seated or sealing well enough.
If you need to drive the car after this test, get out a hair dryer and blow off all moisture in D-Cap and assy. If you found wire arcing, pull that wire away from grounded engine metal for now and wipe with rag til all wires are dry. Any wires that have nicks or imperfections are suspect. This is especially true cheaper wires or wires in a harness or conduit bundle near the engine block.
Swez
PS I has a similar problem last Fall on my Trofeo'. Wires were <2 years old, but one had a bad spot in a harness conduit. Would have never found it had I not removed all wires. (chaffing of insulator was root cause of problem)
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