I washed my engine compartment three days ago with my water hose. Ever since then my engine skips really bad at low RPM but not at high RPMs (at least i can't tell if it does). Friends tell me that I got water in somewhere. I pulled three of my coils (coil of plug type ignition system) and checked the continuity with an ohm meter (read zero ohms) on all three. I did not attempt the other five because I ran out of time and effort.

Any ideas what the problem my be? What could I have gotten so wet that it will not dry out in three days time.

Thanks,

Mike
2000 F150 Lariat, 5.4L Engine

 

You got water in the recesses that the plugs are in. It happens to most every-once.
I'll never make that mistake again. You need to remove all the cop's and blow the water out of the holes with compresed air. If you don't have a compressor you can rig something up with a vacumm.
It may still take driving it a few miles after that to dry them out completely.

 

if you got water in there, you might have fried one or more of your cops. if so you'll have to wait for a code to see which one it is or replace all of them. make sure to read your owners manual to see what should be covered up before the next time you clean your engine

 

Thanks for the information but would the water not have dried out by now after three days of driving? Seems like the engine heat would have done the trick already.

Mike

 

Oh man .....

---> https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=279517

---> https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=279867

Lesson - next time you wanna do something, please search around here to see if someone already effed up doing it - better them than you

 

Well crap..."Look before you leap"...and I thought I was doing a good thing. Ok. Thanks for the information. I at least know now what I should check. Crap, crap, crap!

73
Mike

 

One more thing ... an OBD meter will not indicate a fault without a check engine light so how does one discover which spark plug and/or coil over plug is faulting?

Thanks,

Mike

 

there's differing opinions on here but some of what I have read has said that cops will go bad faster if you replace them one at a time rather than all at once. thats just what I've read though, I've had no experience with it myself good luck

 

A GOOD OBDII scan tool can read Mode 6 data long before any CEL comes on...

Just drive it until the CEL comes on and read the code then to pinpoint a particular cylinder.

Otherwise, pull them all and dry them out. Reassemble with plenty of dielectric grease.

There is no data to back up any claim about COPs failing faster or slower when replaced individually or as a set.... Old wives tale....

Steve

 

I just had the same problem. I have degreased and washed the engines of every vehicle I've ever owned with no problems EVER short or long term. Never used a pressure washer just a garden hose. Just did the same thing for the first time to my 06 XLT and it started skipping. The engine was running while I washed it so after I noticed the skip I jumped in and ran it down the highway for a few miles. Seemed fine after that....so I thought. I parked it in the driveway disconnected the battery to clear the code and washed and detailed the rest of the truck. Once I was done with that I reconnected the battery and started it up. It was a little hesitant but it turned over. I pressed the gas pedal and couldn't get the RPM's to reach 1k. At this point I was stuck with a gleaming F150 that couldn't move. Needless to say I was pissed. After reading a couple of posts here I realized what most likely happened and called a tow truck. After blowing out two coils and a t/p sensor I will never do this again. Lucky for me all of it was warranteed and didn't cost me a penny. I understand why this happened but I do not understand why this never happened to ANY of my other Ford vehicles. Oh well, from now on I will consult the f150online guru's before I do anything else to my truck. No more water under the hood for me!

 

Ya here in Houston it is so humid. Water can build up on the plugs overnight and short them out. I replace all my plugs twice. Yet I have not put dielectric grease in the boots. Maybe I should.

The coils were always fine, just the plugs on the boot wires were corroded.

I even pulled one plug out and it was literally soaking wet. I mean water on the socket and plug and boot. Amazing.

2001.

 

I looked in my owner's manual and the only things they say to cover are the battery (I've never done that) and the air intake path (but I'm careful not to spray water into the air filter).

There's nothing in the manual about protecting the coils, spark plugs, etc.

I'm not doubting anyone here on problems with water in the ignition path, I certainly caused some bad running once by spraying the distributor in another car. (Once it dried out, it was ok).

I've sprayed my f150's engine once (had it less than a year). Was I just lucky?

- Jack