89 RS 2.8L Running great, washed motor now starting problems.

Help!! Just bought a used 89 RS with a 2.8L FI motor. Ran fine, took it to the car wash and srayed the motor to clean it which I have done for years on all my vehicles. Started up ruff, took off and died like you flipped a switch. Got it to start after letting it sit for 2 hours and cranking it on and off for 15 minutes. Took off dies after 300 feet. Let sit untill morning started up after cranking on off for 2-3 minutes and idled like a cold engine should. Touched trottle and it died. Got it to start once more after 5-6 minutes. Reved up to 3-3.5 grand seemd ok took off maybe a 1/8 mile and died like a switch was flipped again.

Had it towed home. Checked distributor for dryness and blew it out and cleaned everything I could get to. Reseated any connectors I could reach, won't start. Any ideas?? Thanks

maybe u fucked an o2 sensor with the water? not sure even if u have an o2 sensor jus heard thats a common problem with engines that have been washed.

I'd say you got water in the distributor and uffed it all it up.

sprayed the motor to clean it which I have done for years on all my vehicles.

FYI: Cold water on hot engine = very bad things (risk of heads/block cracking or warping). If you want to wash your engine, do it in your driveway after it has cooled down. Cover or carefully avoid getting the distributor wet in the future.

It should run without dying even with the O2 sensor disconnected. You may have cooked the ignition control module.

FYI: Cold water on hot engine = very bad things (risk of heads/block cracking or warping). If you want to wash your engine, do it in your driveway after it has cooled down. Cover or carefully avoid getting the distributor wet in the future.

It should run without dying even with the O2 sensor disconnected. You may have cooked the ignition control module.

Thanks, I used a spark checker and the coil wasn't putting anything out picked up another one at Pick and Pull it started right up. Don't think I'll wash it at the car wash any more.

Thanks, I used a spark checker and the coil wasn't putting anything out picked up another one at Pick and Pull it started right up. Don't think I'll wash it at the car wash any more.

Good to hear you got it runnin' again.