water in spark plug tube

Quail328 · Wed, Aug-17-2011, 02:23:25 AM

Was replacing my valve cover gasket over the course of a few nights along with new vanos line and new drive belts.

Today I opened the hood, rained pretty hard during the day, and though I had the ignition coils and plug boots down on the plugs, I could see the top of the engine was wet. I had never put the plastic covers on the night before. I took the ignition coils out and the two closest to the firewall were filled with water.

I mopped it out with paper towels, and then blew them dry with an air compressor.

When I started the car, it fired right up but had a terrible tapping sound. Sounded more like it was coming from the front, near the vanos unit.

Could I have done something to the vanos solenoid? All I did was replace the hose

Also, could I have affected the timing fighting with the water pump pulley trying to get the fan off to do the belts?

Or is the tapping a symptom of the water from the rain? Will this go away once it dries?

hencini · Wed, Aug-17-2011, 02:45:06 AM

If your hood was closed the entire time, no water should have entered your engine bay. Or were you driving it around with the covers off?

Quail328 · Wed, Aug-17-2011, 03:03:23 AM

The engine was closed and it was sitting. I had no belt on the car so I couldn't drive it. I will trouble shoot the water leak after I trouble shoot the tapping sound..

hencini · Wed, Aug-17-2011, 05:24:30 AM

Just remembered-- you probably have a coupe, don't you? I guess it's possible that the hood vents let water in...

Once again, advantage sedan...

As for the ticking, did you double check that everything was back together correctly? All hoses, electrical connections, etc.?

tbaker474 · Wed, Aug-17-2011, 01:15:41 PM

Was your valve cover off or even not fully sealed when everything got wet? I'd guess water in the oil.

Messing with the water pump pulley can't change the timing, that's not the issue.

camdinans3 · Wed, Aug-17-2011, 02:35:08 PM

if there is ticking, its probably a low oil situation. are you positive you repalced the vanos line correctly?

Wed, Aug-17-2011, 02:23:25 AM	#1
Quail328 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2 Reputation: 0	water in spark plug tube Was replacing my valve cover gasket over the course of a few nights along with new vanos line and new drive belts. Today I opened the hood, rained pretty hard during the day, and though I had the ignition coils and plug boots down on the plugs, I could see the top of the engine was wet. I had never put the plastic covers on the night before. I took the ignition coils out and the two closest to the firewall were filled with water. I mopped it out with paper towels, and then blew them dry with an air compressor. When I started the car, it fired right up but had a terrible tapping sound. Sounded more like it was coming from the front, near the vanos unit. Could I have done something to the vanos solenoid? All I did was replace the hose Also, could I have affected the timing fighting with the water pump pulley trying to get the fan off to do the belts? Or is the tapping a symptom of the water from the rain? Will this go away once it dries?

Wed, Aug-17-2011, 02:45:06 AM	#2
hencini Carlos is My Co-Pilot Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 7,249 Reputation: 0 Location: Near the Tannhäuser Gate	Re: water in spark plug tube If your hood was closed the entire time, no water should have entered your engine bay. Or were you driving it around with the covers off? __________________ 75 years and 350,000 miles of fun: 1998 M3/4/5 No mods, just maintenance 1983 CJ-7 No maintenance, just mods 1983 R65LS No intention of modding it, don't know how to maintain it

Wed, Aug-17-2011, 03:03:23 AM	#3
Quail328 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2 Reputation: 0	Re: water in spark plug tube The engine was closed and it was sitting. I had no belt on the car so I couldn't drive it. I will trouble shoot the water leak after I trouble shoot the tapping sound..

Wed, Aug-17-2011, 05:24:30 AM	#4
hencini Carlos is My Co-Pilot Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 7,249 Reputation: 0 Location: Near the Tannhäuser Gate	Re: water in spark plug tube Just remembered-- you probably have a coupe, don't you? I guess it's possible that the hood vents let water in... Once again, advantage sedan... As for the ticking, did you double check that everything was back together correctly? All hoses, electrical connections, etc.? __________________ 75 years and 350,000 miles of fun: 1998 M3/4/5 No mods, just maintenance 1983 CJ-7 No maintenance, just mods 1983 R65LS No intention of modding it, don't know how to maintain it

Wed, Aug-17-2011, 01:15:41 PM	#5
tbaker474 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,459 In the garage: '13 SUBARU WRX '98 BMW M3 Reputation: 0	Re: water in spark plug tube Was your valve cover off or even not fully sealed when everything got wet? I'd guess water in the oil. Messing with the water pump pulley can't change the timing, that's not the issue. __________________

Wed, Aug-17-2011, 02:35:08 PM	#6
camdinans3 Resident Rabble Rouser Join Date: Jul 2008 Age: 32 Posts: 14,013 Reputation: 0 Location: Boston	Re: water in spark plug tube if there is ticking, its probably a low oil situation. are you positive you repalced the vanos line correctly? __________________ Andrew: AVUS 1995 ///95 Supercharged Club

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