Author |
Message |
lboos Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2015 Posts: 408 Location: Marietta GA.
|
Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 9:54 am Post subject: Wet dist. hard to start |
|
|
On my 1971 bug, all stock, had a heavy rain last night, car was left out side,
this morning hard to start, back fire etc. took a long time very rough running, but when engine did warm up everything went OK, and still is.
I suspect rain water on dist. and coil ???? is there a spray you can spray on the dist. and coil to water proof them from the rain and when washing the car to prevent this ?
Anyone else ever have this prob.? Thanks |
|
Back to top |
|
|
glutamodo The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004 Posts: 26300 Location: Douglas, WY
|
Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 10:26 am Post subject: Re: Wet dist. hard to start |
|
|
Well, there is WD40, which stands for Water Displacement Formula 40, and its intended purpose is actually what you are talking about here, NOT a lubricant.
1971, does that not still have the rain tray on the decklid, or did that end with 1970?
Do you have the sealing disc inside the distributor? _________________ Andy T.
IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox.
Last edited by glutamodo on Sun Nov 27, 2022 10:30 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Zundfolge1432 Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12454
|
Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 10:28 am Post subject: Re: Wet dist. hard to start |
|
|
Yes it’s called hairspray. Aqua net or equivalent. This is an old trick used by people running exposed engines, think Baja 1000. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
vwoldbug Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2009 Posts: 1214 Location: Ohio
|
Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: Wet dist. hard to start |
|
|
Did you pop the distributor cap off and dry it out. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
67rustavenger Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015 Posts: 9663 Location: Oregon
|
Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 3:44 pm Post subject: Re: Wet dist. hard to start |
|
|
You could reach out to Nextgen (Joe Cali) and order a set of these magnetic vent covers.
I bought the complete set for something like $45 shipped.
They cover the rear window vent, decklid vents, and front hood vent on later cars.
My 67 will have a vert decklid later this year. So that's why I bought the complete magnetic cover set.
All the other wet ignition fixes has been covered above.
Although, I have never heard of the hair spray trick. It makes sense! _________________ I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!
There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
lboos Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2015 Posts: 408 Location: Marietta GA.
|
Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 3:49 pm Post subject: Re: Wet dist. hard to start |
|
|
vwoldbug wrote: |
Did you pop the distributor cap off and dry it out. |
No, I did not, I don't see how any water could get inside the dist. ???
Maybe I should have tried that, it did finely start, but ran really rough until it built up enough heat to dry everything out, ran well after that.
67rustavenger,
I would prob. forget to remove them and do more damage to the engine.[overheat etc]
Maybe if they were painted bright yellow or had a remove before flight tag on them, I don't use check list anymore.
But that might work for some. Thanks. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
goober Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2003 Posts: 1184
|
Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 5:43 pm Post subject: Re: Wet dist. hard to start |
|
|
"Anyone else ever have this prob.?"
Sure.
Forget the spray and keep the water out. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
vwoldbug Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2009 Posts: 1214 Location: Ohio
|
Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: Wet dist. hard to start |
|
|
Next time it happens pop the distributor cap and check That's how you learn. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
heimlich VWNOS.com
Joined: November 20, 2016 Posts: 6554 Location: Houston, Texas
|
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 10:42 am Post subject: Re: Wet dist. hard to start |
|
|
This happens to me when it rains a lot. The bigger problem is when you run it and the go somewhere. When you come back out it is harder to start. You can pop the cap and dry the inside out. This should help.
If you do nothing it will eventually go away. _________________ www.vwnos.com [email protected]
Classic Brands. Classic Quality.
Not all parts are made the same. NOS OE/OEM parts made mainly in West Germany, Early Germany, and Early Brazil are where VW produced the best quality parts and best fitting products.
5% Off your order with coupon code: 5%OFF
Restored Distributors Available (<--Click here) |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Pruneman99 Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2012 Posts: 5013 Location: Oceanside
|
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 10:51 am Post subject: Re: Wet dist. hard to start |
|
|
Are you using the stock air cleaner? I had that problem with an aftermarket paper filter on a later car with decklid vents. Rain would soak the filter. When you would try to start the car, it would suck water into the engine. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Cusser Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006 Posts: 31268 Location: Hot Arizona
|
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 11:22 am Post subject: Re: Wet dist. hard to start |
|
|
I've had lid standoffs on my 1970 sedan since 1976, and I removed the rain tray of the inside of the engine lid decades ago. Sure, I live in Arizona, but we do get some heavy rainstorms here.
Yes, everything like spark wires, distributor, coil would get soaked. Just ONCE did my VW fail to start/run during/after such rain, and of course was fine the next day. _________________ 1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
KTPhil Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006 Posts: 33882 Location: Conejo Valley, CA
|
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 11:36 am Post subject: Re: Wet dist. hard to start |
|
|
Some outfits used to sell rubber "distributor condoms" that sealed the cap on baja bugs. I can't seem to find them now.
Use some dielectric grease on SP lead ends to help them seal better. If your wires are more than a few years old, replace them. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
vwoldbug Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2009 Posts: 1214 Location: Ohio
|
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 12:22 pm Post subject: Re: Wet dist. hard to start |
|
|
Listen to KTPhil . There is also boots you can put on the spark plug resistors .VW came out with the boots in 1972 to cure the moisture problems on the cars with rear deck lid vents. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Kumiko Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2022 Posts: 4
|
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 2:50 pm Post subject: Re: Wet dist. hard to start |
|
|
The backfiring means that spark is jumping from one wire to another.
Make sure that you don’t have any wires making a cross “+”. They shouldn’t cross at a 90° angle.
With the engine running, use a spray bottle with water and lightly mist your spark plug wires. Mist individual wires and you should be able to quickly find where the suspect is. If it starts to stumble you have a problem with the wire insulation and it/they need to be replaced.
It’s likely, IMHO, that you have spark jumping due to humidity and poor insulation. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
lboos Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2015 Posts: 408 Location: Marietta GA.
|
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 3:07 pm Post subject: Re: Wet dist. hard to start |
|
|
Thank you all, great information. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|