Date:         Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:42:22 -0700
Reply-To:     Gregor Brandt <gbrandt@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Gregor Brandt <gbrandt@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Rain and bad idle / no start
Comments: To: Joe Fernandez <jfride@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <152975250811101157l28b1deect74cfbfcff5db4ef@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

When this happened to me it was water in the O2 sensor.

Gregor


On Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 12:57 PM, Joe Fernandez <jfride@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi listees- some info here for the archives, and a couple of questions.
>
> Last week was our first major rain of the season here in Central CA. The day
> after the rain, I took the van ('86 2.1 weekender) out for a spin, and it
> exhibited some funny idle symptoms- no start unless I gave it gas until it
> warmed up, then on the return trip high idle (2k) until it warmed up, then
> sporadic high idle.
>
> Suspecting the rain, and remembering Mr. Squirrel's most recent 'So thar I
> was' episode, I gave the electrical bits in the engine compartment a good
> spritz of WD-40, to no avail. Then I ran the checks described in this
> helpful article to test the various idle-related components (
> http://www.gowesty.com/library_article.php?id=110). The TPS clicked as it
> should, but the idle control valve didn't buzz.
>
> Since I had a spare idle control module, I thought I'd plug it in and give
> it a try to see if the valve or module was faulty. I pull the passenger side
> taillight to get to the IC module, and lo-and-behold, it's sitting in an
> inch of muddy water. I clean out the leaves/mud that prevent the water from
> draining, let everything dry out, plug in the spare IC module, zip tie it to
> the top of the plastic air intake, and she starts up and runs normally.
>
> I'd be surprised if the IC module is supposed to sit on the floor of the
> compartment behind the tail light--was there a different factory mounting
> place? Is my waterlogged IC module likely fried, and do I risk anything by
> letting it dry out and plugging it in to see if it works?
>
> Thanks
> Joe
>