cleaning engine bay prompts CEL?
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2018
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From: Los Angeles county
cleaning engine bay prompts CEL?
Hey guys so I was cleaning my engine bay on my EX today in preparation to change out all my CAC boots. I covered the fuse box and the alternator and used simple green purple engine degreaser on everything. The engine was so filthy ugh. So I get it cleaned up and after i rinsed it off I try to start the engine and it starts fine but it starts lugging real bad and won't hold idle and stalls unless I manually rev the engine to about 1500 rpm. I tried 3 times and each time it did this. Then I remove my air filter cover in fear that I got water in it somehow and while there is a small amount of water under the air element the element itself and above the element leading into the engine is dry, so thank goodness for that. Then I wd40 all my electrical connections and what I think is a solenoid (cylindrical looking thingy under and slightly behind the engine bay cover) and I fire it up and this time everything is groovy. Except while it runs great now there is a "service engine soon" light on. Is this coincidence since I know I need an oil change or is this directly related to water getting onto something it shouldnt' have? Ideas?
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2018
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From: Los Angeles county
ok so I ordered a wifi adapter for my android phone and I should get it tomorrow. I also got the free demo from forscan and it seems to install and load just fine so I will get the paid version as soon as my wifi module comes tomorrow. I will update asap
Thanks!
Thanks!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: 0,0,1
When you rinse the engine with older COPs installed, the water gets past them and fills the spark plug wells. This results in misfires.
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2004
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From: Central Coast of CA
COP's are on gassers only.
Stewart
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Junior User
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From: Los Angeles county
Thanks guys for your info. Yes, I do have the 7.3 diesel....sorry I didnt make that more clear to begin with 
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Stewart
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Oh well, no one can be perfect all the time. 
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Yup, just read my posts and you'll see a dearth of perfection! I "quick read" and miss stuff all the time. 
Stewart
Stewart
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Junior User
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From: Los Angeles county
Update on CEL: So I literally had around 15 errors as reported by Forscan but after the truck dried out for a couple days and after I cleared the codes and retested all were gone except error code: P1876 Transfer case 2-wheel drive solenoid open circuit i think? And this code wont clear out. I also had code: P1000 OBD systems readiness test not complete. I think I got that code because a test I tried to run on demo mode didnt finish
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,259
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From: Northern California
P1000 just means you recently cleared the codes. it goes away on its own.
p1876, i have that code on mine and have looked up the fix in the factory sevice manual. but since my 4wd system works like it is suposed to i have not addressed it.
p1876, i have that code on mine and have looked up the fix in the factory sevice manual. but since my 4wd system works like it is suposed to i have not addressed it.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2018
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From: Prescott, AZ
Out of curiosity, what were the other codes? So we can help figure out what makes your truck not run when the engine gets wet - it may happen again, in a less-convenient location, if not addressed.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Northern California
fwiw.... when i cleam my engine with simple green and a hose with hot water i use a leaf blower to overall dry it and then compressed air and dry it throughly making sure to get all the electrial connectors which i try to not hit directly with water in the first place.
wd40 does a good job of displacing water but i dont use it because dirt sticks to it snd ends up making its own mess.
wd40 does a good job of displacing water but i dont use it because dirt sticks to it snd ends up making its own mess.