Z06Vette.com - Corvette Z06 Forum

mnypit · 12-10-2007, 05:03 PM

Well, decided to clean the engine compartment of my new Z. Simple Green, some scrubbing and then hosed her down with hot water. Let it dry for a day but am now I get the dreaded "Reduced Engine Power" and "Service Traction Control System" crap. Ugh. Time to start unplugging things and drying it out some more. Surely I didnt screw anything up permenantly?? I hate it when a one hour job turns into a several day job!! I have no one to blame but myself I guess.

So, what is the moral of the story?? DONT hose your engine compartment down!! A simple wipe job would suffice. I am such an idiot. I will blame it on the excitement that has yet to wear off from the purchase of my new (to me) Z!!

Golffox · 12-10-2007, 05:15 PM

Everything is always easier in hindsight, but next time, (if there is a next time) take a good leaf blower to the engine compartment right away after hosing it down to help prevent water from settling into the wiring. Get it dried out good and quick.

It may be a good idea even now if water has accumulated in the connections and has not yet dried.

**jub jub** · 12-10-2007, 05:53 PM

I clean my engine with compressed air, a rag and WD40. No water comes in contact with anything electrical because of what you just described.

vant · 12-10-2007, 05:56 PM

Eh, you live and you learn. I just use a wet towel.

seamus2154 · 12-10-2007, 07:22 PM

Same thing happened to me w/ the C5Z. Blow it out with the leaf blower/ and compressed air. Disconnect your battery. Wd40 everything you can get to it disperses water. Mine took two days because it started at first and got hot and I suspect some water steamed up into place it couldn't normally get to.Then it wouldn't do anything for two days. Once it started I took a long ride and no problems after that. Good luck Jim

**Zippy** · 12-10-2007, 07:33 PM

Today's cars have so much (too much?) electric/electronic gizmos with connections, that water is a NO-NO under the hood. That's just my two sense worth.

Sorry to hear about this.

**YumaZ06** · 12-10-2007, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jub jub

I clean my engine with compressed air, a rag and WD40. No water comes in contact with anything electrical because of what you just described.

Same here.

Z06David · 12-11-2007, 06:17 AM

I'm afraid to spray mine down, these things can be touchy

mnypit · 12-11-2007, 08:38 AM

Well, dried her out and all appears to be back to normal.

**PerforminNorman** · 12-11-2007, 09:07 AM

Every time I wash the car, my final step is to use the damp towel from drying off the exterior of the car and use it under the hood. Engine bay stays almost car show clean.

**mjustmike** · 12-11-2007, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PerforminNorman

Every time I wash the car, my final step is to use the damp towel from drying off the exterior of the car and use it under the hood. Engine bay stays almost car show clean.

Good tip here.....

Glad to hear that all is back to normal now.

ambleZ06 · 12-11-2007, 10:00 AM

Been there done that and didn't learn until the 3rd vette. My 94, 96, and Z06 all had the same issue when I hosed out the engine bay. Once everything drys all is a ok.

ZO6 AL-X · 12-11-2007, 10:40 AM

Good thing the car's back to normal.

**Red Kelly** · 12-11-2007, 02:24 PM

I wash my engine bay about 5 times a year, including the fiberglass hood liner. Only had this problem once. Bought myself a Toro 235 mph leaf blower and no more electrical problems or swirl marks on the clear coat

froggy47 · 12-11-2007, 03:14 PM

I have washed my c4 (optispark!) and z06 with no dramatic results.

My feeling is that is you use Simple Green (or equivalent) and MIST it off with water, then blow dry (Compressed air or leaf blower) and then immediately drive till hot, you will not have a problem IF all your elec connections are good/weatherproof.

If you have beat up/ marginal electrics

OR

if you BLAST the water & then let it sit overnight, you'll have troubles.