Won't Start When Wet - Maintenance and Repair Forum

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Won't Start When Wet
Thursday, August 18, 2011 3:55 PM
96 Sunfire GT, I just replaced the fuel pump because it was thought to be the problem, it ran until it rained again. The fuse relay for the fuel pump is clicking, swapped it out and any other one still clicks too. Checked the battery grounds and terminals, the fuel pump still kicks on but it just sits there and cranks but never starts. It will start for a second with ether, but then dies out. Any ideas?


...you want a pic, then help me build something worth taking a pic of....

Re: Won't Start When Wet
Saturday, August 20, 2011 3:37 PM
I bet the clicking means electrical problem, bad ground, faulty connectios, short ....Did it made the clicking with the old pump?
Re: Won't Start When Wet
Sunday, August 21, 2011 6:37 AM
Relays are supposed to click...


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer
Re: Won't Start When Wet
Sunday, August 21, 2011 12:00 PM
check for spark when the no start condition is active...wet conditions....(sounds like primary/secondary ignition system problem)
Re: Won't Start When Wet
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 9:43 AM
I'm starting to lose my mind, so here is where this is all at:

1. New Fuel Pump, have dropped that tank and checked everything again, sprayed all wires with wire dry and cleaner.
2. Changed out the Fuel Pump Relay, sprayed down the fuse box.
3. Checked all plugs and wires around the intake, checked and sprayed injectors.

When i turn the key to the one position i can hear the fuel pump prime, and it continues to stay on as long as the key is in the on position. also while it does this the fuel pump relay clicks super fast.
IT ONLY DOES THIS WHEN IT RAINS AND AFTER IT RAINS UNTIL STUFF DRYS OUT

where else do i need to check, i'm trying the pcm right now

when all is dry the car runs great so i know it's electrical just have no idea where and where i need to look


...you want a pic, then help me build something worth taking a pic of....
Re: Won't Start When Wet
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 10:27 AM
Ok its a loose wire/short on the two control wires for the relay.


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer
Re: Won't Start When Wet
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 10:37 AM
control wires? what the difference between them and any others? but thank you i will go check all of those wires now


...you want a pic, then help me build something worth taking a pic of....
Re: Won't Start When Wet
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 10:38 AM
The control wires to the relay will be the small gauge wires going into the relay, while the power wires will be the heavy gauge ones.


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer
Re: Won't Start When Wet
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 10:56 AM
how far do i need to follow them, and to where?


...you want a pic, then help me build something worth taking a pic of....
Re: Won't Start When Wet
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 11:11 AM
Idk, how far, until you find the break. It'll likely be at the relay connector though.


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer
Re: Won't Start When Wet
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 12:56 PM
i checked at the fuse box and they are solid looking there, tomorrow i am going to try to test each wire and see which on might have a break, once it dries out and works again would the wire possibly have an inconstant charge while checking


...you want a pic, then help me build something worth taking a pic of....

Re: Won't Start When Wet
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 3:33 PM
I'd look for mostly cracking, it would be a short that only happens when its wet.


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer
Re: Won't Start When Wet
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 3:56 PM
Where the fuel pump wires go to the body from the tank (should be beside the tank on passenger side), check to make sure the connection does not have any corrosion,rust etc. Make sure its clean inside the connector and Id throw a little dielectric greese on there before re-connecting. Might help you out, may not but its worth a shot


"Straight roads are for fast cars, turns are for fast drivers"-Colin McRae
Re: Won't Start When Wet
Saturday, September 03, 2011 9:05 PM
ok, iahve tried all of the above mentioned connections and the fuse box, rained hard today and didn't start after 1+ hour of rain, but did still start while raining for awhile. also it never starts right away anymore, i have to either keep the key turned for 4-6 seconds, or do short starts 2 or 3 times. also i noticed the speedometer goes crazy sometimes, so i'm thinking it might be a bad ground, but where to start now? i have checked the grounds coming from the battery and the front one on the engine block, but still nothing. and the relay continues to click (fuel pump relay) so my guess it the fuel relay is not getting the correct signal from the ignition module to hold pressure in the lines to feed the engine while starting, i can hear the pump come on but it does not get fuel into the cylinders? any more help?


...you want a pic, then help me build something worth taking a pic of....
Re: Won't Start When Wet
Sunday, September 04, 2011 12:02 PM
The fuel pump relay clicking repeatedly could mean it is getting and losing electricity repeatedly or grounding and loosing ground...you could use a jump wire from the battery to find out where is the problem. BTW change the fuel filter if you have not.
Re: Won't Start When Wet
Sunday, September 04, 2011 1:00 PM
Leafy (Club Jeffie FEA man) wrote:Relays are supposed to click...


yea... not constantly though.



Re: Won't Start When Wet
Sunday, September 04, 2011 1:03 PM
Stephen wrote:
Leafy (Club Jeffie FEA man) wrote:Relays are supposed to click...


yea... not constantly though.


Yeah, I realized it was clicking constantly later.


1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by: Kronos Performance

WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer
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