'91 N/A Won't Start in the Rain

[Prof_Fuyutsuki]

I'm new here, I've been lurking awhile, but this is my first opportunity to post.

I've got a 1991 N/A MR2 with a manual transmission. Recently, it has developed a bit of a problem - whenever it rains, I get a crank-no-start condition. I then have to wait for things to dry out before it will start again. I have noticed that putting a beach towel across the top of the engine (from on top of the cruise control actuator over to the fuse box) will keep light-to-moderate rains from getting the engine wet, letting it start and getting me home from work.

Has anybody here seen this problem? How were you able to fix it?

Thanks!

[semi-charmed]

umm...it sounds to me like water is getting into your distributor...maybe your cap needs to be replaced...when was the last time you did ignition components?

[Prof_Fuyutsuki]

I just replaced the cap, rotor, and ignition wires several months before the problem started, and I pulled them off to check for oil (I'd had a seal leak there before) and found a nice clean, dry environment. I checked the coil resistance thinking that maybe I'd had a short in the coil, but that checked out also.

It's rather frustrating, as I've been chasing this problem around for a bit.

[MRQtwinturbo]

do u still have the rain guard underneath the engine lid??...

[Prof_Fuyutsuki]

It depends - there is some sheet metal deflecting moisture to some extent, however it also causes it to drip right onto the alternator and the distributor.

If the rain guard is some other shield, then I believe it is missing.

[psycopanther]

pop fuse box cap after it rains. is it holding water? check your sparkplug wire seals. once i washed my car to find out it wouldnt run very well. the water got through the seals that cover the holes for the plugs and grounding out or something. anyways, when it does rain again, pull each wire off the plug and look into the whole for water, and wipe off the ends of the plug wires where they hold the plus, and try that. check wires on dizzy cap. check seal on dizzy cap. check to make sure all connections are good on wires to dizzy cap, plug wire to coil, connector to coil and ignitor. probably the plug wires over the plug holes really.

[kbox]

There is supposed to be a rubber seal between teh cap and distributor. Check and make sure it is not missing, cracked, or improperly installed.

If you need one we keep the seal in stock.

This is a picture of the seal kit with the gasket...

http://www.kbox.ca/catalog/product_i...roducts_id=184