Help! Heavy Rain -- Won't Start Again!!??

[Donne Trav]

After another heavy rain, the '94 wouldn't start again. This has been
happening for over a year now. The rain/wet snows must be causing
moisture somewhere in the electrical system causing this problem. But, after it sits for a few days, it cranks right up. I've been dealing with this
because it hasn't rain that much, but the "April showers" are coming and
I don't want to get stranded while away from home. My wires and Opti
are fine, both less than 2 yrs old, and like I said it will eventually
turn over after appearing t "dry out". I wonder where the most likely
other place moisture would gather to cause this?

 

[vetteboy86]

Might be a long shot, but are your battery connections good and clean? I know your situation has been on going, but refresh my memory, no cranking happens?

 

[boomdriver]

I recall this being a problem but i forget if we discussed my theory...

Mine has a similar issue thats VERY intermittent. Usually after rain or driving in rain it won;t crank. No starter.

What I discovered was that a few gentle taps on the starter body or the solenoid resolve the problem. In my case the moisture causes the solenoid to stick and not slide to transfer power to the actual starter motor...if that solenoid does not move...the car won;t either.

I did some research on this and did find a service bulletin on SBC starter solenoid contacts and a repair kit that was offered to end the problem. It seems that the contacts sometimes become burned or dirty and the solenoid does not get the signal. The solenoid system is simply a little switch(key) telling a BIG switch (starter solenoid) to energize.
Being outside and directly exposed to weather and road grime, it all made sense.

The unfortunate downside of this is that NOW, whenever the starter won't spin, I assume that the same thing is happening again..........

I spent an hour in the grocery store parking lot last week only to realize that my VATS was tripped and I was trying it again too soon and resetting the disable mode.....After about 5 trips to the passenger side to lay down in the parking lot (thank you to everyone that lets their car leak something!) and reaching underneath to tap on the solenoid, I finally stopped for 15 minutes to talk with a stranger that stopped to help...and it started and then it hit me as my 1//2 gal of BlueBell dripped out onto the passenger seat..........VATS.:duh

The no crank when wet sounds like the solenoid. If its cranking but not starting, then its got to be a wire harness plug-in somewhere thats getting wet. A proper check of what gets power and what don't when the condition appears would help trace the origen of the problem.

Get the FSM and DVM out and get busy....(if it cranks but won;t fire)

 

[Donne Trav]

I recall this being a problem but i forget if we discussed my theory...

Mine has a similar issue thats VERY intermittent. Usually after rain or driving in rain it won;t crank. No starter.

What I discovered was that a few gentle taps on the starter body or the solenoid resolve the problem. In my case the moisture causes the solenoid to stick and not slide to transfer power to the actual starter motor...if that solenoid does not move...the car won;t either.

I did some research on this and did find a service bulletin on SBC starter solenoid contacts and a repair kit that was offered to end the problem. It seems that the contacts sometimes become burned or dirty and the solenoid does not get the signal. The solenoid system is simply a little switch(key) telling a BIG switch (starter solenoid) to energize.
Being outside and directly exposed to weather and road grime, it all made sense.

The unfortunate downside of this is that NOW, whenever the starter won't spin, I assume that the same thing is happening again..........

I spent an hour in the grocery store parking lot last week only to realize that my VATS was tripped and I was trying it again too soon and resetting the disable mode.....After about 5 trips to the passenger side to lay down in the parking lot (thank you to everyone that lets their car leak something!) and reaching underneath to tap on the solenoid, I finally stopped for 15 minutes to talk with a stranger that stopped to help...and it started and then it hit me as my 1//2 gal of BlueBell dripped out onto the passenger seat..........VATS.:duh

The no crank when wet sounds like the solenoid. If its cranking but not starting, then its got to be a wire harness plug-in somewhere thats getting wet. A proper check of what gets power and what don't when the condition appears would help trace the origen of the problem.
Get the FSM and DVM out and get busy....(if it cranks but won;t fire)[/QUOTE

Thanks for the detailed info, but it DOES CRANK. It just continues to spin as it would if there were no gas or if the COIL WIRE was not attached. Then when I turn it off, it sputters a second or two and shuts down. Each time I turn the key, the normal "strong and rapid" starter sound, but doesn't turn over. It'll start when something dries out in a couple of days. Thanks Again.

 

[catbert]

How old is your wiring - plugs, coil, etc?

 

[Donne Trav]

How old is your wiring - plugs, coil, etc?

Plugs, at least 5 to 8 yrs. old (no misses, etc)., ruled out as part of the problem.
But the COIL, is the original. Wires & Opti. less than 2 1/2 yrs. old. I'll say again, the car runs very good after initial start, but after a soggy rain or wet snow, will not start until it dries out. Thanks for the reply.

 

[catbert]

If the wires are porous and soggy from moisture, the coil might not be able to fire the plugs. I've seen it happen - to me.:eyerole