1994 Dodge Intrepid when it rains 3.3l

CRUNCH94

MEMBER
1994 DODGE INTREPID
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
175,000 MILES

Hey guys I have a beautiful 94 trep with 175k that works and performs beautifully. I always do my own maintenance on the car and about 3 weeks ago I replaced my valve cover gaskets along with the intake plenum gaskets. Now here is my problem the car works PERFECT in dry weather however its been raining alot where I live and every time the trep gets wet or I run through a light puddle my poor baby dies on me and she does not want to start back only after about 3, 4 hours later now this has never happened before only until after I change the said parts and im at a lost here now as soon as the car dries out she starts back fine and works normally. I had to have the car towed once by geico and today by pepboys I know they gonna rape me with prices but im not going to let them do the repair just the diagnostic anyone have any ideas on what this could be?

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,871 POSTS

Start it up on a dry day, and before it gets too hot, spray water on the electrical connectors and spark plug wires to see if you can duplicate the problem. If you try this at night, you will see arcing from the spark plug wires if they're defective.

Rubber weather-pack seals could be missing from electrical connectors. Terminals getting wet usually won't cause a problem right away, but corrosion will develop that can become electrically conductive when wet. That WILL cause a problem.

When you're spraying water, don't overlook the engine computer and the Power Distribution Center, (fuse and relay box) under the hood. If the cover is missing, water will cause corrosion on the fuse and relay terminals.

Caradiodoc