How can moisture get into an ignition system?
Frayed or Damaged Wires: Many cars have exposed spark plug wires. This is fine during normal operation, but if the wire’s plastic covering is damaged, it can expose the wire itself. In this instance, even high humidity may be enough for moisture to accumulate on the wire.
Why does my car not start when it rains?
Spark Plug. The most common reason for a car not starting in the rain is found in the spark plugs. Wire insulation can wear thin and this causes the voltage to arc to the metal of the car engine rather then going into the spark plug.
Is there any way to keep moisture out of a distributor?
I know I sprayed some kind of clear sealer (maybe silicone) over the cap and wires but never really had a weather issue anyway. Moisture can get inside of the distributor cap no matter how tightly it has been sealed. The key factor is the dew point in the atmosphere.
Where does the moisture in a car come from?
During the right atmospheric conditions moisture can creep in anywhere; including inside of a distributor cap on vehicles equipped with that. This is especially true if the weather gets dreary during or before a warm engine is shut down. The heat draws the moisture in.
What happens if you have moisture in your ignition system?
If your ignition system has moisture in it, the car will not start. The system will need to be completely dried before it will operate again. In addition, it’s possible for water intrusion to create a short in the system that may damage components.
I know I sprayed some kind of clear sealer (maybe silicone) over the cap and wires but never really had a weather issue anyway. Moisture can get inside of the distributor cap no matter how tightly it has been sealed. The key factor is the dew point in the atmosphere.
During the right atmospheric conditions moisture can creep in anywhere; including inside of a distributor cap on vehicles equipped with that. This is especially true if the weather gets dreary during or before a warm engine is shut down. The heat draws the moisture in.
What to do if your engine stalls in wet weather?
If the engine now stalls, here is what to do: Turn off the ignition switch. Unclip and pull apart the connector. Examine both halves of the connector for cracks. Have a mechanic replace a cracked connector. Inspect the pins in the male half of the connector to see whether any are bent. Straighten bent pins with needle-nose pliers.