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#1 |
1970 K10, 350, 4spd!
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Shawnee, Ok
Posts: 128
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Power washed engine, now it wont run!
Ok, so I had a lot of gunk build-up on the manifold near the valve covers. I took it to a near by car wash, left the engine running and sprayed down the area with simple green and then proceeded to spray the engine clean. During this 10 min spray job the truck died once. I stopped spraying opened the door and started the truck back up, it ran fine. I got done spraying and drove to town which is about 8 miles (highway). The engine seemed to have plenty of power and I did about 80mph all the way to town. I stopped went in to sears and spent over an hour admiring all the shiny tools. I spent to much money and when I came out, my problems started. I went to start the truck and it sounded like the truck barely had enough juice to turn over. It did finaly turn over; it burped and spurted to life backfiring and belching out huge clouds of black smoke from the exhaust. It had no power, no idle and if I stopped giving it gas it would die. I did this several times and finaly got the rpm's high enough that it started to smooth out and run ok but as soon as I let off the gas it died. I figured I better try to limp my way back home the next time I got it started. Once again it started very hard like it had no juice and made some god-awful sounds. Basicly the engine ran like **** in every gear as I limped my way to the highway untill the rpms got to a good clip. Everytime I would get the rpms up and shift gears it would loose all power and act sluggish like it wanted to die but would then slowly climb back up in that gear and once the rpms climbed up it began to run smoothly. Once on the highway it ran fine at 80mph. I got off at my exit ramp and it idled fine at the stop sign before I turned onto the next road. Once onto the road it accelerated fine and ran good for the next few miles to my house. Once home I stopped and let it idle. I turned the key off let it set for a minute and tried to start it. It would only start if I gave it gas. I waited 30 mins and went outside to try and start it and its backfiring and carrying on like it doesnt want to start and it will not idle.
My first guess is that somehow water got into the distributor cap and that is what is causing the fouled engine. My next guess is that the water knocked a vaccume hose or something else loose? That or water is in the intake or something like that. I just wanted to come home and ask you guys before I tried to troubleshoot it and forget something from this experience. Its getting dark so I guess I will have to wait untill morning to take a look at the truck. What do you guys think? Is there something else I should check? |
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#2 |
Designated A-hole!
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: South Mississippi
Posts: 36,450
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Make sure you didn't knock any spark plug wires off the plugs or distributor. Go ahead and check your vacuum lines. make sure your distributor is tight and didn't move on you. That's all I can think of off the top of my head. Hope that it helps.
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"If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. ![]() We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck" |
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#3 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Virginia Beach, Va. U.S.A.
Posts: 15,320
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If it's a points distributor check the coil wire.
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#4 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: May 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 1,234
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hot engine + water=steam. Condenses inside distributor cap-shorts out.
Dry it well, spray inside cap well with penetrating oil--WD-40? Dry again, start engine.
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Stepsides look like real trucks! Smitty ![]() |
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#5 |
Franko72
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Cincinnati,Ohio
Posts: 471
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Ill bet that tommorrow everything will be OK when things dry out. I would leave my Dis. cap loose from the Dist. Tonight.Hope that it doesnt rain at your place.
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![]() 1972 C20 cheyenne Super 402 BB/400 turbo LWB A/C Tilt, Cruise Control, Saddle tanks, Tach My Home Page Better to burn out than it is to rust |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Penelope, Texas
Posts: 393
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I think your truck is wanting you to use your new tools you bought on it!
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#7 |
Project Junkie! Fishing Poor!!
![]() Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Olympia,Wa. 98512
Posts: 10,770
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I don't think that there is much question, it sounds like a wet distributer cap. When you first start it up, it actualy has water droplets inside causing the electricity inside the cap to be spuratic and all over the place. One it warms up, like smitty62 says the water turns to steam and doesn't efect the flow of electricity nearly as bad. Dry the distributer and cap and I think that your problem will go away. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com
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On-line catolog Classic Heartbeat Pickup Parts WEHEPP@comcast.net Call us Toll Free (888) 338-2502 Like Us on Facebook No appointment necessary. 72 BB Chevy Custom Deluxe / Custom Camper 67 I-6 (Soon to be 5.7 LS1) Panel 68 BB Chevy Short Bed 72 6.0 LQ9 Short Bed Chevy 4X4 Olympia's fastest growing truck parts supplier. Olympia's home for Wayward Chevys |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Shreveport LA
Posts: 3,170
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Take it off, spray the inside with WD-40 so the water will go away, then with brake cleaner to get the WD off. Reinstall after the cleaner evaporates, not before.
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Cadott Wis,54727
Posts: 193
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I hate to say this but someone should,,,It's Flooded!!
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Mt.Airy,MD
Posts: 123
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I think you should spray a layer of oil&dirt and see how it runs.
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72CheyenneSuperK20CustomCamper350/TH350,A/C 72SierreGrandeK2500350/TH350,A/C 72CustomDeluxeK20CustomCamperSB400/4SPD.A/C 72CustomC10SWB,TH400,project |
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