I messed up... power washed engine bay, now won't start.

[Austinlejenkins]

Hello everyone, not new to Toyota's but new to 40's. I just bought a barn find 1972 fj40, it had been sitting for 5 years before I got to it. I cleaned out the gas tank and cleaned the carb and it fired right up! I've been driving it daily for the past couple of days, it's been running great. That is until today... I made the mistake of power washing the engine bay. I bagged the carb, alternator, and the dizzy. About 3/4 through the wash I realized that my knot in bag on the dizzy was not as tight as thought and I soaked it. The truck won't start now. I took the distributor apart and cleaned it out with wd40 and compressed air. took the ignitor off and dried it out as well. But still just cranks no start.

I also checked all the fuses and they're good, I have air and fuel, but seems to have no spark. Any guesses? is there something that I'm missing?

here are some pictures of before and after of the engine bay. Who knew it was orange haha!

IMG_7696 by austin jenkins, on Flickr
IMG_7708 by austin jenkins, on Flickr

and some pictures of when I bought the truck and yesterday before I power washed it.
IMG_7521 by austin jenkins, on Flickr
IMG_7672 by austin jenkins, on Flickr

 

[ColoradoFJ40]

Did you possibly knock of an electrical connector when power washing? Is the engine turning over or you arent even getting a click? Did you check your fuses?

 

[Austinlejenkins]

That's what I was thinking. I have checked all of the connections that are in the line of being sprayed and haven't found any, but I don't really know what to be looking for. I tested for continuity on all fuses and they were good. engine is turning over just not firing. I heavily sprayed the ignition coil, I didn't know think it would hurt it. I did use purple power degreaser.

This is my first car with a carb and mechanical everything, my other truck is a 1997 4runner.

 

[3_puppies]

I was thinking you got moisture in the distributor cap.
it's a fairly basic system

 

[cbmontgo]

Let her dry for a day and see what happens.

Great looking first 40.

 

[whitey45]

Check the plug wires going to the cap, they will hold water and cause a no start.

 

[Austinlejenkins]

Thank you everyone for the quick replies. I'll let sit some some more and report back tomorrow! I pulled the wires off the plugs but didn't think about off the cap, I'll check that! is the ignition coil okay to get wet?

 

[whitey45]

Coil is ok to get wet, will probably dry out by tomorrow and fire right up, been there many times!

 

[Downey]

Been there, done that, problem always wet parts that need to dry out. Sooooo I started leaving the engine running while I washed it and that solved the problem every time- - -easy deal.

 

[Austinlejenkins]

UPDATE: it’s been almost 36 hours since I power washed the engine and still no luck on getting it started. When pulling off the spark plug wires 3 of them came apart so I replaced them. I pulled the cap off the distributor and made sure all the contacts were clean, as well as the rotor. Is there a way to test the coil? I also pulled the spark plug from cylinder one and got no spark from it when cranking the engine

 

[whitey45]

Have you checked for spark? Pull the coil wire and hold close to engine and crank over. Check for 12 volts at the ballast resistor..

 

[Austinlejenkins]

I have, but I may have done it wrong. Here is what I did, I pulled the coil plug off the coil and held it close to a bolt on the valve cover while I cranked, got no spark. So I did the same thing with the #1 spark plug, with the same result. Am I doing this wrong? Do I also check for 12 volts at the ballistic resistor while cranking? I'm sorry that I'm such a noob with this stuff. Im very used to efi and electronic ignitions.

Untitled by austin jenkins, on Flickr
Untitled by austin jenkins, on Flickr

 

[Austinlejenkins]

here is also some pictures of the wiring involving the dizzy and coil. Does anything look off to any of you experts?

Untitled by austin jenkins, on Flickr
Untitled by austin jenkins, on Flickr
Untitled by austin jenkins, on Flickr
Untitled by austin jenkins, on Flickr
Untitled by austin jenkins, on Flickr
Untitled by austin jenkins, on Flickr

 

[45Kevin]

Did you move the dizzy at all with the power washer?

Check that it is close to the right position. Find the timing mark on the flywheel (seen through a little opening above the starter) for TDC and make sure it is on the compression stroke. Then check where the rotor is in relation the #1 plug wire on the dizzy cap

Also check for continuity on all the ignition associated wire, including coil and plug wires.

 

[skidplate]

These are simple engines. I'd remove al the plug wires and coil wires, make sure they are clean and dry and making good contact, reinstall and give it a go.

 

[Austinlejenkins]

Did you move the dizzy at all with the power washer?

Check that it is close to the right position. Find the timing mark on the flywheel (seen through a little opening above the starter) for TDC and make sure it is on the compression stroke. Then check where the rotor is in relation the #1 plug wire on the dizzy cap

Also check for continuity on all the ignition associated wire, including coil and plug wires.

I'm 100% positive that the dizzy didn't move. The clamp is very tight and hand even be twisted with the force of me turning it.

I'm headed to Napa to get a new ignition coil to see if that fixes the issue. I will report back with any updates.

 

[Austinlejenkins]

These are simple engines. I'd remove al the plug wires and coil wires, make sure they are clean and dry and making good contact, reinstall and give it a go.

I replaced all the spark plug and coil wires.

 

[whitey45]

Looks like you knocked off the power wire to the ballast!!!!!!! Top connection of the ballast should have a wire( 12v going to it.!!!!)

 

[whitey45]

It’s black with a yellow stripe, I can see it in the pic!!! I should get a door prize!!!!

 

[Austinlejenkins]

It’s black with a yellow stripe, I can see it in the pic!!! I should get a door prize!!!!

you sir deserve a prize!! if only I could send you a beer through the internet. I thought that wire was for the broken mini tach in the truck, I made the mistake of grounding it to the body so I need to check if I did any damage. but thank you so much!!

I stabbed it with my multimeter and got 12 volts with the key on and the negative terminal off the battery. with it on battery and the key on it has no power to it. any ideas? im outside right now doing everything I can.

Again, thank you so much @whitey45 !!!!

Untitled by austin jenkins, on Flickr
Untitled by austin jenkins, on Flickr
Untitled by austin jenkins, on Flickr