Why's it Stalling?!

[slamurai]

My samurai has a neat problem when it rains. It has only happened on the freeway in the rain.

I will be truckin' along and all of the sudden, I lose power and sometimes it will even die completely.

It starts right up and runs fine, but it seems that when there is a lot of water spraying off passing vehicles I get this problem. It doesn't happen unless I'm near other vehicles on a wet road.

My guess is that maybe the k&n is sucking in water? If it was an electrical short, then it wouldn't start right up so easy. i have checked all the vacuum lines and they are all good.

Anyone out there had this problem?

Any suggestions? Putting the k&n in the stock airbox might solve it, but doesn't that defeat the purpose of the "megaflow design"?
Besides, anyone that drives a zuk knows how painful it is to give up 5-10hp.

 

[bobdog]

Megaflow? How much air do you think those squirels can suck in? The stock air cleaner is probably oversized for that engine>

 

[my4thjeep]

Cracked distributor cap. This used to happen on my 69 camaro all the time until I finally switched out the cap. It had a tiney cracks in it that would allow moisture in.

 

[SammiGrrl]

Any suggestions? Putting the k&n in the stock airbox might solve it, but doesn't that defeat the purpose of the "megaflow design"?
Besides, anyone that drives a zuk knows how painful it is to give up 5-10hp.

I have no clue. I had that problem once, and then it never happened again. I don't know why, though.

If you want more power, put an Iske cam in it.

 

[Caleb]

Cracked distributor cap. This used to happen on my 69 camaro all the time until I finally switched out the cap. It had a tiney cracks in it that would allow moisture in.

My thoughts too...I had that same thing happen with my wrangler...changed the cap and all was good...

 

[slamurai]

I have changed the distributor cap and it hasn't made a difference.

Oh, the megaflow k&n makes all the difference! I'm thinking Rocky Mountain Raceway! Ha!

 

[slamurai]

k&n air filter

I checked the distributor cap and sealed it all up with silicone, but still had the stalling on the freeway in the rain. I just put the old air box back in and sprayed water all over the engine while it was running to try and get it to stalll, but it didn't.

I think it might be that I didn't have a guard around the filter to keep the water out. I will know for sure next time it rains.

 

[spencurai]

I speak from 100% personal experience on this with my zuk....it is your air filter. you are sucking in water and screwing up your air fuel mixture. I usually ran some kind of cardboard or something to block the inflow of air/water into the filter...if you put the stock airbox back on, you will lose power but you will ditch your problem.

the main problem with putting an air filter of that type on is that you lose your heat exchange to help your motor warm up in the winter time. you will notice it will take 30 minutes for your zuk to warm up properly with your current setup.

 

[slamurai]

there goes the power

Yeah, that’s what my hunch was..

I put the stock airbox back on and it does warm up much faster, and I don’t really notice any significant change in power.

Looking at the stock setup for the air, it appears that it wasn’t designed to take air in from the front of the engine compartment. The intake is hidden on the side of the battery tray, probably for a reason, huh?


Has the cardboard method worked even in the rain, or do you switch it out for the stock airbox in the winter?

 

[spencurai]

my strategy was to limit the wet air from coming into the engine compartment completely. I would put some cardboard in front of the radiator and inbetween the grill and the radiator. This would help it warm up fast and it NEVER overheated!! After I went with illegal width tires and rims, my tires were out so far that they really didn't make that much mist and my problem solved....

 

[slamurai]

still have the problem, it even did it in the fog the other day.

 

[jp008]

Call me or come over. I have an idea

 

[BBowski82]

An easy trick to eleviate anything ignition is to simply get a spray bottle and douse the plug wires, cap, coil, and everything else ignition with water. I have fixed quite a few cars that have had intermittantly shorted ignition cables. And on a four cylinder losing one hole is liking getting kicked in the nuts....figuratively speaking of course

 

[SAMI]

why's it stalling?

maybe it's because it's a samurai

 

[Brett]

If you want more power, put an Iske cam in it.

or get a real motor

 

[Wanker Delux]

I have been having the same problem, the only thing I can think of is some sensor on the carb has gone bad, or possibly an electricle problem... I have only had the problem when there has been some type of precipitation. Maby I'll put in some time on the service manual after finals are over...

 

[slamurai]

An easy trick to eleviate anything ignition is to simply get a spray bottle and douse the plug wires, cap, coil, and everything else ignition with water. I have fixed quite a few cars that have had intermittantly shorted ignition cables. And on a four cylinder losing one hole is liking getting kicked in the nuts....figuratively speaking of course

I tried that. I emtied an entire bottle on the engine and nothing happened.
I think it might have something to do with it being a samurai and it also only happens when I am late to school or in a hurry.

 

[JoeT]

Swisschesse your airbox with a 1" drill. Just do it on the sides that would be the driest when it's raining.