yesterday i went through an automated carwash after spending the morning driving dry dirt roads. as i got about a block away from the carwash the engine sputtered and died. i popped the distributor cap and rotor off and it looked dry, wiped the whole thing down and let in sit in the sun for 30 minutes, put it back together... nothing. went back later in the evening... nothing.

im going out this morning to see if there is water under the spark plug cover or something like that and replace the rotor and cap and hope for the best (the tips in both look well used)

is there anything else i should look for? anybody else have this happen to you? i searched the archive and read a few stories about wet caps and fuses but my fuses are good and the cap sure seemed dry.

thanks for reading!
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-woodsytf '95 850 wagon 157k

and the answer is.... bad coil.

apparently the coil failed after a drive thru the car wash. serindipity?

its back on the road and running fine.
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-woodsytf '95 850 wagon 157k

I had this problem, but I'm sure its not the same as you. I ran mine through a car wash, dried it on the other side, and had a start, but no run once I was ready to leave, had to get it towed home ( $$$ ) It turned out to be the fuel pump.

So if its turning and trying to run, which i don't think yours is, then check on the fuel pump, otherwise, i have no idea what that is stucking off the tranny. it looks like a heater hose? but not from the transmission.

Good luck! and sorry i can't help more

Did you check your codes? Just because there is no CEL on does not mean there aren't any.
A car wash with the hood down should not get anything wet in the engine bay. If you sprayed the engine to clean it, then there could be multiple problems. Like the alternator, loose vacuum hoses, wet coil, etc.

Klaus
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The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

i used a friends ODBII code reader and it reads clean. no codes.

the engine has been washed but not yesterday, 2 weeks ago

behind at work, short on cash, and a car that wont start. phooey!

im towing it to my local shop to see what they can do.
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-woodsytf '95 850 wagon 157k

the distributor cap had a hairline crack and was dated by the mechanic on 01/2003 so i replaced the cap and rotor, the plug wells looked dry, the wires look ok, I checked/re-made every electric plug/connection i could put my hands on and when i try the key she just turns over and over without starting. after cranking for several seconds there is a faint fuel odor so i think it getting gas, im puzzled.

when i had the airbox out to replace the cap/rotor i saw a small white plastic bit sticking up off the tranny (i think) it looks like it is missing a connection... any ideas, i attached a pic to help identify it. the pic is from under the dist. cap and would be hidden by the airbox if it was in place.


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-woodsytf '95 850 wagon 157k

Any fault codes? You should be able to get the '95 codes without a OBD reader. Was any water forced into the air intake for the filter or CPU cooler?