Ok, None of the other boards on the net have been able to efficiently answer my question, so I timidly approach the Pirate boards for assistance.

I have recently run into a problem with water, when a sizable puddle sent a wave of water into my engine compartment, immediately shutting my Jeep down :nuke: . The true problem came when water began to spill into my car, creating a puddle of my own. I returned, and after wetting various parts of the engine with a hose, determined that the distributer is the problem. This does not happen to any of the other Jeeps (4.0 or 2.5) that were with me.

If someone could please help me to fix this issue, I would be very grateful

Seth Ratner

It would help us to know what kind of engine you have now
Also what distributor you have

Waterproofing distributors is not hard
The trick is to vent the ozone fumes to a higher location

I drive a 2.5 liter, '97. The distributor is stock, but if need be, I can find out what type it is. I will add my engine specs to my Signature

welcome NEWBIE
CHECK IN:flipoff2:

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED

http://dkg.elmo-the-dog.com/pictures/medium/1013934072.205.188.193.42.jpg

http://dkg.elmo-the-dog.com/pictures/medium/1013934125.205.188.193.42.jpg

http://dkg.elmo-the-dog.com/pictures/medium/1013934202.205.188.193.42.jpg

:D the first 2 and the last one are 2 different times of getting stuck :D

most dist. caps are vented. You can drill out your vent hole and run a line higher (and silicon your cap) or check with a marine supply for a rubber dist. boot.

Good advice from Cutter about siliconing the cap after fixing a higher vent tube, or at least one with some turns in it to keep water out.

In reality though, you clearly didn't hit that mud hole fast enough. Instead of the grill pushing the mud up and over the hood, it funneled through into you distributor, killing your ignition. Does anyone make a magneto for the inline? Hmmm...

;) ;)

What Cutter said or kinda. I used get water in my Jeep all the time. I had to seal a hole in the firewall that was not done well enough at the plant. To be honest, I found out about this at...JU Ya,ya,ya I know, but I was young:flipoff2: So, I would make double sure of the leak location into the cab. Also, do you have an open air element? You may want to think about that if you are going to have lots of dirty, mud water pouring into your engine compartment

There are actually several things you should waterproof - air intake, distributor, differentials, neutral safety switch, etc etc. Here's a link for a guy in Australia who does a lot of deep fording. He describes in detail all the waterproofing stuff he's done on an XJ. This link might not take you straight to the waterproofing stuff but look around his site, it's there somewhere. Also, some cool fording pics.
http://www.gojeep.rockcrawler.com/How%20to1.htm

Thanks for the help, i will check into getting all the listed parts waterproofed.

And CJ Bull, The problem only arises when I hit the Water at high speeds, as I did in that instance, but the water still got in and did its damage.

Another good waterproofing source:
http://www.off-road.com/jeep/fullsize/ifsjawaterproof.htm

That depth of water really shouldn't be a problem. The problem is you probably hit it too fast. You want to go just fast enough to create a nice wake in front of you. Minimize the splashing into the engine compartment.

Then once you're moving in at the right pace -- start spinning the wheels if you need it.

Some other options to waterproof the distributor... a coating of petrol jelly on the inner lip of the dist. cap (keeps water out, doesn't "glue" the whole thing together like silicon will). For the dist. cap vent, tape/glue a square or two of panty hose. Air will still pass freely, and while the seal won't be waterproof, it will be very water resistant.

Just don't be surprised if the counter fella looks at you funny when you go to the checkout with panty hose and vaseline. :D

Oooooohhhhh , Vaseline and pantyhose...I bought those last week..... LOL, Just kidding:D

I will take out my distributor this weekend and try the ideas posted, and then blast through some puddles to see if they worked.... Keep them coming though, the help is great.



:flipoff2: Seth Ratner:usa:

I use to have a similar problem with my distributor getting wet. All I do now is run a bead of RTV around the edge of the distributor cap and then install it and tighten the screws. This will keep the water from getting in through the bottom. Now you still have that vent on top that water can get into. I just took the cap off teh vent and install some 3/8" air line to that and ran it up to the top of the firewall. Haven't been able to test it yet, but the RTV has seemed to help before. Just connect the air line first since it is a tight fit.

Hey, where can I get some RTV? Sorry if the stuff is common, I dont recognize the abbr.

pssst.... don't ask that here, its only the most common gasket maker in the world, any auto parts guy can point you to it... edit your post to say something like "But that's semi-permanent, I think I'll use something that would be easier to take apart again."

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: RTV:question: :rolleyes:

I glue the wires to the cap with RTV
Vasaline the wires to the plugs

I treat the dist. cap just as a diff cover. Put a bean of RTV on the cap and wait for it to skin over, then WD40 the fawk out of the dist. and assemble it.

For us four bangers you can use a rubber glove as a splash gaurd just run a wire through each finger and zip tie everything up.

I don't bother with the vent as they are pretty resistant unless submerged, or at least I have been satisfied.