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Washed engine now check engine light is on please help!

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Old May 28, 2012
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Washed engine now check engine light is on please help!

Im still learning about cars and dont know too much but i washed my engine with simple green and water and when i tried driving it the check light came on blinking at first now its solid and stalls and shakes like when i press gas it shakes and jumps what can i do to repair it? please help! just bought it 2000 civic hx thanks!
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Old May 28, 2012
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Re: Washed engine now check engine light is on please help!

Did you power wash it? Oh man, you done did something messed up then. The motor can withstand a bit of road spray from driving on wet roads, since all the electrical connections have protective plastic or rubber boots, but power washing is another thing.

First thing I would do is check the battery terminals and dry them out. Then pull all the coil packs and make sure they are dry. If that doesn't fix your problem, leave it alone with the hood open for a few days with the coil packs out and hope the water dries out. After that it's time to start pulling codes.
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Old May 28, 2012
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Re: Washed engine now check engine light is on please help!

Next time cover the alternator and distributor before washing. You definitely soaked something.
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Old May 28, 2012
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Re: Washed engine now check engine light is on please help!

Flashing CEL is misfires. Pull the 4 wires out and look for water.

I stick an air gun down the spark plug holes to blow water out, then pull the plugs to look for damage.




IF you find this, you need to replace the plug AND the wire at the same time. Leaving one with a burn will cause the other to burn.

Pull the dist cap and look for moisture. Clean it too.

Read codes, note any that aren't misfire codes. Erase. See what comes back. Deal with it then.


Edited: Posted a 2000 under 7th gen, threw me off.
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Old May 28, 2012
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Re: Washed engine now check engine light is on please help!

Ezone thanks a lot, i figured it was a misfire and changed the spark plugs this morning so you were right. I havent changed the wires because they were in good condition but ill probably change them too thanks guys!
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Old May 28, 2012
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Re: Washed engine now check engine light is on please help!

Oops, sorry didn't realize you have a sixth gen, so no coil packs
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