Washed the engine off..

[zeke1985]

On my 95 Nissan Altima, I covered the alternator and distributor. About a day or two later my check engine light came on and my rpms fluctuate when idling and the car will sometimes jerk a little when driving, like when I shift gears. I looked down in the spark plug wells and I had water in a few of them, so I dried it out and replaced the plug wires, I also replaced the cap and rotor(these were all old anyway). But I am still having the problem! Video of my rpms while sitting at red light -

Youtube

 

[SatinSilver]

Did you drive the car or let the engine run right after you cleaned the engine to help speed up the drying process?

 

[zeke1985]

No, I let it dry off for a bit before driving it..

 

[buster]

Hmmm I don't know what is causing that. You did the right thing by covering the alternator and distributor but getting water in the plug area is bad. I always avoid hosing that part of the engine done.

 

[Kiwi_ME]

Well there's 30 seconds of my life I won't get back!

 

[The_Eric]

What are the trouble codes? That's the first thing that should be done.

 

[LeakySeals]

Please explain how you washed the engine.

 

[Falken]

Did you cover the air box as well? Open it up and see if the air filter is wet. If you got water in your air box and it isn't draining out through the hole in the bottom maybe it is pulling in water mist into the engine?

 

[Durango]

Originally Posted By: zeke1985
On my 95 Nissan Altima, I covered the alternator and distributor. About a day or two later my check engine light came on and my rpms fluctuate when idling and the car will sometimes jerk a little when driving, like when I shift gears. I looked down in the spark plug wells and I had water in a few of them, so I dried it out and replaced the plug wires, I also replaced the cap and rotor(these were all old anyway). But I am still having the problem! Video of my rpms while sitting at red light -

Youtube


zeke1985,

Try taking your car out on the freeway for a couple hour drive and see if your issue goes away.

Usually when I get my engine cleaned this is what I do immediately!

Durango

 

[wn1998]

Originally Posted By: Durango
Originally Posted By: zeke1985
On my 95 Nissan Altima, I covered the alternator and distributor. About a day or two later my check engine light came on and my rpms fluctuate when idling and the car will sometimes jerk a little when driving, like when I shift gears. I looked down in the spark plug wells and I had water in a few of them, so I dried it out and replaced the plug wires, I also replaced the cap and rotor(these were all old anyway). But I am still having the problem! Video of my rpms while sitting at red light -

Youtube


zeke1985,

Try taking your car out on the freeway for a couple hour drive and see if your issue goes away.

Usually when I get my engine cleaned this is what I do immediately!

Durango


I spray my grand Cherokee engine with a pressure washer and never cover anything up. I have never had an issue. I bet if you get your car up to operating temp and drive it another 5 miles that should be enough heat to dry out anything that may be wet. No need for hours of driving.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: zeke1985
On my 95 Nissan Altima, I covered the alternator and distributor. About a day or two later my check engine light came on and my rpms fluctuate when idling and the car will sometimes jerk a little when driving, like when I shift gears. I looked down in the spark plug wells and I had water in a few of them, so I dried it out and replaced the plug wires, I also replaced the cap and rotor(these were all old anyway). But I am still having the problem! Video of my rpms while sitting at red light -

Youtube

Pull the plugs and clean them or replace them. One may have been fouled from the misfires.

 

[JamesBond]

After washing the engine I immediately start it and drive it for at least a half-hour with some highway and some heat-soaking idling, until its all dry. This is best done in the summer.

Your rpm's are changing enough to be an ICV problem. Pull the electrical connector and make sure its dry and clean and then remove the ICV and clean it with some carb cleaner. Then drive it around and get it good and hot.

 

[The_Eric]

I'm wondering why we're still speculating? The o/p stated that he had a CEL and drivability issues. It would be prudent of the o/p to retrieve any trouble code first and investigate from there, otherwise we're just poking around in a haystack looking for a needle.

There are plenty of affordable code readers and even parts stores that will do it for free...

So, I ask again, what are the codes?

 

[zeke1985]

I am going to get the codes pulled. I took it to Advance but the kid there wouldn't scan it since their reader does only obd2..even though I think my car is actually obd2 even though it is a 1995.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: zeke1985
No, I let it dry off for a bit before driving it..


Mistake. Pressure washing your motor is a bad idea in the first place but if you insist on doing it the engine needs to be running and you have to drive it a few hours after the spray down to evap any water and prevent any rusting of anything.

 

[Doog]

Originally Posted By: Kiwi_ME
Well there's 30 seconds of my life I won't get back!


Don't worry you won't get any of it back....