Power Washed Engine and now she runs like crap

[Ontime34]

I have a 94 bmw 325is and I powerwashed the engine in it 2 weeks ago. Got in the car to start it and it drove fine the fifteen minutes back to my house. Then hour later I try to start and she was idling really bad by sputtering then stalling. Hour after that she wouldn't start.

2 weeks later 'today'....I had a guy come out and look at the car he pulled all the coil packs out and there was water in them and i mean alot. Dried off the plugs put em back in and it started this time then stumbled and stalled.
Pulled plugs again found more water still there and dry plugs off again.
Car started right up and ran pretty good and seemed to be idling just fine....after about 15 minutes i put my foot on the gas and she sputtered and dies.

The guy who looked at my car thinks its a cracked head and that water is reaching the plugs. However when I pull the oil stick i detect no water or antifreeze in it maybe this mechanic is reaching a bit? But I really think it's only the water from the power wash.

I guess what my question is what else should I have taken apart and dried. Is it possible there is water in my distributor?

Any help u all can provide would be GREAT!

[flyfishvt]

You don't have a distributor. Your buddy is probably wrong. You don't get a cracked head from spraying water on the engine and you certainly don't get water in the plug wells from a cracked head. You have almost certainly ruined at least one of your coils or at the very least some of your coil boots. You could have also gotten water into your DME.

Not to sound condescending bit it sounds like you don't know much about cars. 1st thing is don't ever use a power washer on any engine ever again. 2nd you need to get your DME pulled out then take the cover off it and check for water. If it's wet inside you might be able to dry it out or you might have killed it. If it's dry inside then move onto the coils. You should have a check engine light on by now. Get the codes scanned and see what they say. Next thing is to take the plastic covers off the engine and let every thing dry out in good shape. Pull the coils and get them dried out. Swap out your plugs then put the whole thing back together and try again.

If you aren't comfortable working on engines or diagnosing them then take/tow it to a shop where a qualified tech can kook at it. Don't let your buddy touch it again

Is there any chance you got water in the "cylinders" and not the "plug wells"?

[rllynch1]

Why should you never power wash your engine bay? I've read plenty of threads that advise doing it.

Back on topic, I do have to agree with flyfish that it sounds either plug or coil related. There should be some sort of CEL on. You have a 94. Do you know how to perform the stomp test?

[Ontime34]

I did do the stomp test and the only code it's throwing up is a 1221 which is O2 sensor. I'll try and locate the DME and see if it has water, thanks gents.

[E36B1MM3R]

dme is located in engine bay passanger side behind plastic and foam cover. http://www.dtmpower.net/forum/attachments/e36-3-series/23804d1095468000-ecu-location-efront.jpg

[JDStrickland]

If you actually had a distributor, then you could have water in it. But, you do not have a distributor. You do have coils on each of the six spark plugs, and you could have filled the spark plug holes with water, and now they are shorting out instead of sparking properly.

You need to remove the coils and then use pressurized air to blow into the spark plug holes WHILE THE PLUGS ARE IN PLACE and blow the water out.

[Zodiacbw]

It isn't a good idea to power wash your engine because it has a bad habit of getting water where it shouldn't be (as seen here). Grab a towel and cleaner or if you need to wash it, just use a hose.

[flyfishvt]

I did do the stomp test and the only code it's throwing up is a 1221 which is O2 sensor. I'll try and locate the DME and see if it has water, thanks gents.

Codes aren't always exactly what they say. A 1221 code is actually a Lambda Code. Lambda codes relate to Fuel/Air mix. That could be MAF or Vacuum leak or a few other things.


It isn't a good idea to power wash your engine because it has a bad habit of getting water where it shouldn't be (as seen here). Grab a towel and cleaner or if you need to wash it, just use a hose.

+1 Most power washers can generate 1500psi. use a good degreaser and all that dirt should come right off with little effort. Rinse off with a hose and you're done.

Need I remind you that auto car washes are not recomended for e36s because the high pressure water can flood the DME? And that's with the hood closed.

[Ontime34]

Thanks for all your responses gents I do appreciate it. I went ahead and removed the coils and dried off the plastic thing that goes over the plug, then pull the plugs and dried them off once more. Fired her up and she started and ran crappy, BUT and here is the novice in me I had to reattach those hoses "pcv hose" and one other to the rubber thing that attatches to the throttle body. Now it runs like a champ!

Flyfish thanks for the "tough love" I certainly won't be washing the engine again anytime soon. In addition thanks for the heads up on the lambada code. Thankfully nothing got completely fried out.

[shlalaw]

And while we're at it, have you checked the drains in the firewall? If they get clogged, water can flood the DME compartment with or without powerwashing.

[flyfishvt]

Glad to help. My point with the Lambda Code is only to point out that all codes have to be interpreted. If a code points to a specific sensor it only means that the sensor's readings are not where they should be. At least that's a very simple explanation but that failure could easily be caused by some other problem. Dont take the codes literally. At least not at first.