Weird starter Issue
 

So here in Omaha, Ne we had two tornadoes and 6 inches of rain in two hours. My FC has a leak near the top of the front passenger window glass and lets water in when it is raining heavily.

So after the storm I take the car out for a spin and 4 maybe five minutes into the drive, my car goes CRAZY. The Tachometer stops working, the engine temp gauge goes all the way to the top (car was just gettting to operating temp) and then it starts to bog, back fire, and smoke when I gave the car some gas.

So I turned the car off fearing the worst. Walked home and the next day try to start it. No Luck, wont even crank or turn over. So I thought that it was my battery. Got a new battery and it will turn over very slowly, but I find out that it is making a very loud tick tick tick tick clicking sound. So Im thinking that the water that leaking into the cabin on the passenger side got the ECU wet and shorted it out. That would explain the tach failing, engine temp gauge going all the way up, and the bogging and backfiring. But why would it affect the starter relay and the starter?

I havent done much investigative work, but I know that the ticking sound is the starter or the solienoid or the relay. The funny thing is that it will turn the engine over, but very slowly and the relay will click alot.

Can anyone diagnose this?

is it a brand new battery? and are you sure it's fully charged?

maybe the ignition wiring from the fuse box in the engine bay is loose, or check the fuses there.or alternator plug could be loose, or the belt, or maybe the ecu really is toast

yes.

weird....hmmm,may be a longshot but try taking the plugs out and turn it over,maybe it got water in the combustion chamber?

Check all grounds and connections at the starter. May just be a coincidence that the problem occurred after the heavy rain. Then again, it could be as you suggest, that water has shorted out the ecu electrics. Pull the ecu and check it out or replace it.

That is most redicously answer ever. you did not read above and I dont see how water could get into the combustion chamber from the car sitting...with its hood on... or MAF and exhaust pipes clear from water.



Ding Ding! The ground wire off of the starter came off. that explains why the starter would turn but very slowly. I immediately saw it when I took off the starter to have it tested. Man, these rotaries I tell ya!