My shop cleaned up an '00 VW Golf 4 door with 4 cyl. auto.

The motor was pressure washed, but only the cowl area and sides. (Not a direct hit).

The car was sitting out in sub zero temps, then pulled into my shop which is warm and humid-- hence condensation on anything cold.

Now the car won't start. Turns over, but the revs just drop off. No smoke/smell/drama. Sat for 6 hours to dry, and no go.

I know VW/Audi motors are fussy when it comes getting wet, the coils go etc. This one isn't acting like that, usually they run like ****.

Any ideas? TIA!

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'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

Put a box fan infront of it, and give it a little ventilation.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

We've got huge fans on the wall, blasted those. Pulled all the plastic crap off and tried a heat gun too. No dice.

Gas guage and temp gauge are dead, wonder if it's an electrical anomaly. ?

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

All the fuses OK?

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

I dunno. All the other electrics work fine. I never drove the car pre-detail and my employee didn't notice anything, but doesn't recall either.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

If I recall, there is a fuse/relay box on top of the battery.. If you soaked that then you're in deep ****........ Is it a 1.8T or 2.0 ?

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Sharing my partner's 2012 Forte 5dr SX til I find my next 123 or 126..
-
Do I miss being a service advisor ???

I'll bet the spark plug wells are full of water. Unbolt the coils 10mm nuts and have a look inside. You can blow out with compressed air and should be fine.

It's a 2.0L. Engine is bone dry. Still acts the same way.

It fires up then dies, as if I'm using a valet key. I tried cycling the alarm --

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

So does it just crank and crank? Does the EPC light come on when you turn the key? If not the engine computer isn't getting power.

-Jason

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

It'll crank, catch/fire-up, revs go up to idle, then it dies.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

Does the cluster beep and flash the car/lock icon? Does it run for 2 seconds every time? If so the immobilizer is confused. Take the battery connections off, touch them together for 10 min, then try starting again. The radio will probably go into safe mode, but after a while should come out on its own.

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Hmmm... car is at the shop and I'm now home.

I'm pretty sure it beeps/flashes. And it does do it every time, that's why I thought it was something to do with security.

I unhooked both cables, but didn't touch them together.


Thanks for the advice -- I'll try again first thing in the morning.

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

The cluster should ding when you turn the key on for the seatbelt warning. It BEEEPs (rather loudly) if there's another more serious problem like no oil, no coolant, or immo blocking the start.

-J

You are surprised by this? Nothing under a hood is designed to stand up to 5000 PSI other than maybe the block.

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

I pressure wash my engine bay at least twice a year. So long as you don't hold the nozzle close to anything sensitive you won't have problems. It all gets wet when you drive in the rain... or winter slush. Gotta go back in and rinse the salt off!

-J