Engine surging after water crossing

[Fitzydog]

I suspect it has something to do with the alternator, but everytime I get the engine bay wet the engine does a surging rev for quite a while.

Is my alternator going bad? Did water get inside of a specific connecting plug?

 

[LS1FJ40]

Surging? Do you mean "sputtering"?

Like a loss of power and your 80 kind of jerks a little bit?

This is common. Take off your distributor cap. Blow out with an air compressor. Done.

Or just keep driving and it will eventually dry out and go away.

 

[Fitzydog]

No, I mean surging. It will rev to 2500rpm and let off. And then repeats.

 

[AMX390]

Happens to me after washing engine, and yes, it goes away.

 

[Tools R Us]

No, I mean surging. It will rev to 2500rpm and let off. And then repeats.

Most often it's the TPS connector, it's the only critical connector that isn't weather sealed. Dry it out, adding a bit of silicone grease will reduce future problems.

 

[LINUS]

@LS1FJ40 , @Tools R Us

Both right where I went too - and I smear lithium grease in all the connectors (even inside the cabin for humidity / socket seal failure)

While I don't live in monsoon level rain like Forks or Aberdeen ( @Landpimp can attest to that being the real place to check your "waterproof-ness" ), I'm up here in Skagit Valley where we get our more-than-fair share, and electrical gremlins aren't ever a issue I've fought, despite most all spots of my black 80 having been truely wet at some point over the years.