Carwash almost killed my car
#1
Carwash almost killed my car
Not really, but tbh I'd like some insight if anyone has any ideas.
Car runs fine normally, never had this issue. Went through a car wash after getting gas, car sounded like a cammed out V8 (like if the map line were to be disconnected, but it wasn't). I start checking the car immediately in the parking lot, and the engine just dies.
I turn the key off and on, the PFC Commander freezes at the Apexi flash screen. I hear an electrical noise under the UIM and near the relays on the strut tower (almost like an electrical creaking sound). Car will crank and not start. I let the car sit with the hood up, eventually the PFC gets past the splash screen when I turn the key off/on, but it shows no values for anything I go to look at under monitor, they're all blank. My tach starts jumping around, my exhaust temp light flashes on and off randomly, the whole car is just losing its mind at this point, then gradually stops. At this point my battery is dead. I wait an hour-two hours for a tow truck, I notice that the noises/behavior have stopped, The PFC starts displaying sensor values again. A friend arrives and jumps me, and the car starts up perfectly fine.
Ive had the car through numerous car washes, and this has never been an issue, but it sounds to me like something definitely got wet. Car has its wheel well liners.
Anyone have any idea of what may have happened?
Car runs fine normally, never had this issue. Went through a car wash after getting gas, car sounded like a cammed out V8 (like if the map line were to be disconnected, but it wasn't). I start checking the car immediately in the parking lot, and the engine just dies.
I turn the key off and on, the PFC Commander freezes at the Apexi flash screen. I hear an electrical noise under the UIM and near the relays on the strut tower (almost like an electrical creaking sound). Car will crank and not start. I let the car sit with the hood up, eventually the PFC gets past the splash screen when I turn the key off/on, but it shows no values for anything I go to look at under monitor, they're all blank. My tach starts jumping around, my exhaust temp light flashes on and off randomly, the whole car is just losing its mind at this point, then gradually stops. At this point my battery is dead. I wait an hour-two hours for a tow truck, I notice that the noises/behavior have stopped, The PFC starts displaying sensor values again. A friend arrives and jumps me, and the car starts up perfectly fine.
Ive had the car through numerous car washes, and this has never been an issue, but it sounds to me like something definitely got wet. Car has its wheel well liners.
Anyone have any idea of what may have happened?
Last edited by SwappedNA; 05-06-22 at 10:37 AM.
#3
RX-7 Bad Ass
iTrader: (55)
Something got wet that wasn't supposed to, you'll have to go through and check things. Also worth figuring out why it did that when it got wet, if a car wash can do that a hard rain storm on the highway can do the same thing.
Dale
Dale
#7
Rotorhead for life
iTrader: (4)
Is ANYTHING in your FD's electrical system modified? And by modified, that also includes just relocating or re-orienting components from their stock positions (e.g., some V-mount kits make you have to relocate & re-orient the relays up front). Doing so may cause water to be trapped & accumulate in places it normally wouldn't, which can cause electrical headaches and accelerate corrosion of said components.
My best educated guess is that water got someplace it shouldn't have and created a parasitic current path to ground - enough current draw to cause a system wide voltage drop down to where the ECU would go wacky, but not enough current to blow any fuses. Troubleshooting to recreate the issue will be difficult, but perhaps you can isolate it by strategically using a hose or pressure washer to direct water to various parts of the car in sequence while it's running at idle in your driveway to see if the problem reoccurs? That might help isolate to the susceptible wiring or components.
What kind of car wash was it? Does it spray water from the top, sides and underside of the car?
My best educated guess is that water got someplace it shouldn't have and created a parasitic current path to ground - enough current draw to cause a system wide voltage drop down to where the ECU would go wacky, but not enough current to blow any fuses. Troubleshooting to recreate the issue will be difficult, but perhaps you can isolate it by strategically using a hose or pressure washer to direct water to various parts of the car in sequence while it's running at idle in your driveway to see if the problem reoccurs? That might help isolate to the susceptible wiring or components.
What kind of car wash was it? Does it spray water from the top, sides and underside of the car?
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#9
Is ANYTHING in your FD's electrical system modified? And by modified, that also includes just relocating or re-orienting components from their stock positions (e.g., some V-mount kits make you have to relocate & re-orient the relays up front). Doing so may cause water to be trapped & accumulate in places it normally wouldn't, which can cause electrical headaches and accelerate corrosion of said components.
My best educated guess is that water got someplace it shouldn't have and created a parasitic current path to ground - enough current draw to cause a system wide voltage drop down to where the ECU would go wacky, but not enough current to blow any fuses. Troubleshooting to recreate the issue will be difficult, but perhaps you can isolate it by strategically using a hose or pressure washer to direct water to various parts of the car in sequence while it's running at idle in your driveway to see if the problem reoccurs? That might help isolate to the susceptible wiring or components.
What kind of car wash was it? Does it spray water from the top, sides and underside of the car?
My best educated guess is that water got someplace it shouldn't have and created a parasitic current path to ground - enough current draw to cause a system wide voltage drop down to where the ECU would go wacky, but not enough current to blow any fuses. Troubleshooting to recreate the issue will be difficult, but perhaps you can isolate it by strategically using a hose or pressure washer to direct water to various parts of the car in sequence while it's running at idle in your driveway to see if the problem reoccurs? That might help isolate to the susceptible wiring or components.
What kind of car wash was it? Does it spray water from the top, sides and underside of the car?
I'm going to get it up on a lift hopefully Monday when I get it to Pettit Racing and get a look.
#10
Rotorhead for life
iTrader: (4)
#13
Full Member
#14
Hey...Cut it out!
iTrader: (4)
Just for S&G, I threw that into google translate and it did not disappoint...
If there is a smell of gas inside the car,
When you feel angry, etc., when you have to deal with Tsutsune.
Please receive the check at the address. Masa even if you clean yourself
If you must, open all windows fully.
Please calm down.
20 Peets Be careful of the Ikka Flame King
When you feel angry, etc., when you have to deal with Tsutsune.
Please receive the check at the address. Masa even if you clean yourself
If you must, open all windows fully.
Please calm down.
20 Peets Be careful of the Ikka Flame King
#15
Lives on the Forum
iTrader: (26)
I was just joking with the owner, as we had been in close contact in those days. Did he mention he did not have his undercover on?
Akagi is just joking as well.
Or maybe Google translate is playing AI games.
The text roughly says "if you are driving and there is a smell, or an odd sounding noise, get to the dealer to have thee car diagnosed. In such circumstances, if driving the car is unavoidable, drive with the windows open."
Akagi is just joking as well.
Or maybe Google translate is playing AI games.
The text roughly says "if you are driving and there is a smell, or an odd sounding noise, get to the dealer to have thee car diagnosed. In such circumstances, if driving the car is unavoidable, drive with the windows open."
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Akagis_white_comet (01-05-24)
#16
Lives on the Forum
iTrader: (26)
This one is more fun. Mazda drops the usually polite manual speak and gets to the point.
Heading says : WATCH OUT FOR THESE THINGS!
Basically text says: "don't add aftermarket stuff that changes the way the car functions or operates. You have no way of sufficiently understanding how we have designed this car."
"don't f*ck with it!
Heading says : WATCH OUT FOR THESE THINGS!
Basically text says: "don't add aftermarket stuff that changes the way the car functions or operates. You have no way of sufficiently understanding how we have designed this car."
"don't f*ck with it!
Last edited by Redbul; 01-05-24 at 01:26 AM.
#17
Lives on the Forum
iTrader: (26)
Limp mode
Limp mode for life!
JDM does not have a check engine light. The ecu monitors for about 50 malfunctions, and in many instances will switch to 'limp mode".
Limp mode makes the car run very poorly and is meant to signal to the owner to get the car to the dealer.
The dealer has/had a diagnostic tool for reading the "codes" the ecu shows to identify the problem.
As it is hard to find a dealer outside Japan (or maybe in Japan) that still has the diagnostic tool, you have to learn to do a DIY code read.
This is done with a simple led light (with resistor) and a jump wire, both of which have their wires inserted into specific terminals in the diagnostic plug (front left of engine bay in front of the shock tower).
Hook those wires up right and the ecu will cause the LED to flash. Count the long and short flashes then look up the issue in the FSM.
Codes in the USDM FSM largely are the same as for JDM FSM.
Anyone new to JDM should look into reading codes at an early stage.
Before you start swapping stuff out in search of a fix.
Codes will only work with the stock ecu.
After market ecu may have other ways to show faults.
If you have a stock ecu, but have done a lot of deletes (like emissions solenoids) the ecu will throw the car into limp mode.
You sometimes can fool the ecu by putting resistors in where the solenoids used to be (assuming your harness is still intact).
Disconnecting the battery for a period, or just turning the car off, might get the cu to reset.
But it will go back into limp mode, the next time it does a diagnostic cycle.
If it seems you are seemingly stuck in "limp mode for life", seriously consider replacing the ecu with an aftermarket alternative.
Last edited by Redbul; 01-05-24 at 01:50 AM.
#18
Full Member
Limp mode for life!
JDM does not have a check engine light. The ecu monitors for about 50 malfunctions, and in many instances will switch to 'limp mode".
Limp mode makes the car run very poorly and is meant to signal to the owner to get the car to the dealer.
The dealer has/had a diagnostic tool for reading the "codes" the ecu shows to identify the problem.
As it is hard to find a dealer outside Japan (or maybe in Japan) that still has the diagnostic tool, you have to learn to do a DIY code read.
This is done the a led light (with resistor) and a jump wire, both of which have their wires inserted into specific terminals in the diagnostic plug (front left of engine bay in front of the shock tower).
Hook those wires up right and the ecu will cause the LED to flash. Count the long and short flashes then look up the issue in the FSM.
Codes in the USDM FSM largely are the same as for JDM FSM.
Anyone new to JDM should look into reading codes at an early stage.
Before you start swapping stuff out in search of a fix.
Codes will only work with the stock ecu.
After market ecu may have other ways to show faults.
If you have a stock ecu, but have done a lot of deletes (like emissions solenoids) the ecu will throw the car into limp mode.
You sometiems can fool the ecu by putting resistors in where the solenoids used to be (assuming your harness is still intact).
Disconnecting the battery for a period, or just turning the car off, might get th eecu to reset.
But it will go back into limp mode, the next time it does a diagnostic cycle.
If it seems you are stuck in limp mode for life, seriously consider replaeing the ecu with an aftermarket alternative.
JDM does not have a check engine light. The ecu monitors for about 50 malfunctions, and in many instances will switch to 'limp mode".
Limp mode makes the car run very poorly and is meant to signal to the owner to get the car to the dealer.
The dealer has/had a diagnostic tool for reading the "codes" the ecu shows to identify the problem.
As it is hard to find a dealer outside Japan (or maybe in Japan) that still has the diagnostic tool, you have to learn to do a DIY code read.
This is done the a led light (with resistor) and a jump wire, both of which have their wires inserted into specific terminals in the diagnostic plug (front left of engine bay in front of the shock tower).
Hook those wires up right and the ecu will cause the LED to flash. Count the long and short flashes then look up the issue in the FSM.
Codes in the USDM FSM largely are the same as for JDM FSM.
Anyone new to JDM should look into reading codes at an early stage.
Before you start swapping stuff out in search of a fix.
Codes will only work with the stock ecu.
After market ecu may have other ways to show faults.
If you have a stock ecu, but have done a lot of deletes (like emissions solenoids) the ecu will throw the car into limp mode.
You sometiems can fool the ecu by putting resistors in where the solenoids used to be (assuming your harness is still intact).
Disconnecting the battery for a period, or just turning the car off, might get th eecu to reset.
But it will go back into limp mode, the next time it does a diagnostic cycle.
If it seems you are stuck in limp mode for life, seriously consider replaeing the ecu with an aftermarket alternative.
#19
Lives on the Forum
iTrader: (26)
There are all kinds of threads on here that deal with tuning the Power FC.
If you have a Power FC, I suspect you will not be experiencing limp mode, as that is a stock ecu thing (afaik)
Guy in New Zealand sells a tool called a datalogit that you can hook up to your laptop and analyse the hell out of the Power FC.
It may even have correcting software.
It expensive, but so is spending hours guessiing what is wrong.
If you have a Power FC, I suspect you will not be experiencing limp mode, as that is a stock ecu thing (afaik)
Guy in New Zealand sells a tool called a datalogit that you can hook up to your laptop and analyse the hell out of the Power FC.
It may even have correcting software.
It expensive, but so is spending hours guessiing what is wrong.
Last edited by Redbul; 01-05-24 at 02:02 AM.
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JayroeSpeed (01-05-24)
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JayroeSpeed (01-05-24)
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JayroeSpeed (01-05-24)
#22
Racecar - Formula 2000
In the '60's I had a red Triumph TR4 which I (stupidly) took to a car wash. They had a plastic rod that rubbed along the left side of the car as it passed through attached to a sensor to tell the equipment a car was still there. Unfortunately, there was a sharp edge on it and it made a deep scratch in the LF fender. I almost got arrested arguing that the car wash caused it. They wouldn't do anything about it except deny it was their fault. Since then I only take cars that are not special to car washes (unless it's a DIY one) and then only when we are travelling and the car REALLY needs it..
Last edited by DaveW; 01-05-24 at 11:30 AM.
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