No juice to spark plugs = no fun

[92conv]

Hey all, this is my situation... After a serious rainstorm all night(unable to cover the vette) the car was running rough. It would die if I left it at idle so I kept it parked and towed it to my garage where I let it sit for a week or so. When I tried starting it again nothing worked. Battery checked good so I pulled the starter which turned out to be bad. Problem solved right, wrong! Next I pulled a spark plug to see if it was getting a spark but it didn't so now I am guessing that it could be either the ECM or the dynaspark??? I've heard bad things about optisparks and water so... Has this sort of thing happened to anyone here. Thanks in advance

 

[Mart]

There are a lot of issues with water and the optispark, but leaving the car out in the rain should not do it, you would have to spray water on it.

But excesive moisture may do it, I'm no optispark guru, but someone will chime in soon.

Mart

 

[WhalePirot]

Back up a sec. If the car cranks, the battery and starter are fine.

The association of water and an electrical issue make sense. Did you ground that spark plug or use a screwdriver, inserted into the plug wire terminal, to see how far and what color the arcing is when it jumps to a ground? It should jump 1/4" and be blue; the shorter that gap, the thicker it will appear.

If the ignition wires and cap did get wet, the car would run as you describe. It's hasn't exactly been optimum weather for all the water to evaporate, either. You can try to dry everything with compressed air or a hair dryer. The toughie is the low-mounted Opti, which could have moisture inside the distributor cap.

Have someone crank the engine in a dark area while you look for 'leakage'? As the wires age, expecially after being pulled and reinstalled from plugs, they become more susceptible to arcing to available grounds prior to the plug gap. Electricity takes the path of least resistance.

 

[Daryllawman]

Just wanted to welcome you to the Corvette Action Center.....someone here will help you out....Good Luck.

 

[92conv]

The way I checked for spark was to hold the plug against the block with the lights out and had my neighbor turn the ignition. I didn't see a spark but I wasn't looking everywhere else either. Will give that a shot and thanks for the welcome to CAC. Been reading up on the threads and there is some helpful people here. Will post a pic when I get a chance (and a digital camera) :L