Car conked out after driving through puddle...

tmcw · 13-11-2009 9:03am #1

Well, it was more like a pond, during those flash floods 2 weekends ago. Anyway, I got it going again after drying out the distributer cap with some rags and displacement oil.

Just wondering if there is anything I can do to limit this happening again. The engine is a 1995 1.4 VW, usually very reliable. Now about 6 years ago, it happened as well, that time I forgot to put on the shroud over the cap, and lost it on the drive back home (I think the shroud isn't to prevent water or dirt getting in, but more for limiting electrical interference?), guys in the garage said I was better off without one. Is there any treatment I can give the cap to keep the insides dry? Maybe some silicone grease around the outside edge of the cap, or spray the inside, or anything else (besides the obvious of not driving through puddles if I can help it)?

Muckie · 13-11-2009 9:12am

WD40 maybe, know a few lads who swear by this stuff. That or there's
a white grease that comes in a spray form, some motorfactors have it.

tmcw · 13-11-2009 9:16am

Thanks. And do what with it, just spray inside the cap every couple of weeks or so?

Muckie · 13-11-2009 9:20am

With the WD40 the mechanic's i know spray the it in the cap and
on the HT leads even, the white grease around the outside the cap once its closed. Extra repellant for the water.
Then the cars set till the next service.

tmcw · 13-11-2009 9:23am

Sounds like a good protocol. Thanks very much.

gofaster_s13 · 13-11-2009 12:51pm

Old trick, marigold rubber gloves and cable ties

5 leads = 5 fingers, if you have a five/six cylinder engine you have to look for the very rare 6ix and seven finger gloves:D

Hal1 · 13-11-2009 1:07pm

That's genius! It reminds me of a musical instrument of some sort heh

Seth Brundle · 13-11-2009 1:27pm

Alternatively just don't drive through pond sized puddles!

CJhaughey · 13-11-2009 2:12pm

The Mk2 golf used to come with a factory version of the rubber glove, I think it was made of Vinyl or something.

Rovi · 13-11-2009 2:19pm

gofaster_s13 wrote: »

Old trick, marigold rubber gloves and cable ties 5 leads = 5 fingers, if you have a five/six cylinder engine you have to look for the very rare 6ix and seven finger gloves:D

There's a 'nine-finger' version for V8s:
http://www.parkerlandrover.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=BA2840&cat=149&PHPSESSID=966bbb91aa930c5b255269182089af0d

Car conked out after driving through puddle...

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