clean engine - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

rabbit23 · 07-17-2001, 04:03 PM

I was wanting to clean my engine over the weekend, I went to the store got some engine degreaser followed the directions. I covered all electronics with plastic. after i was done i rinsed it off let it sit with hood up to really dry out. about 5 hours later i was on the road to go haves some drinks. the car died about 10 miles from my house, i tried everything but couldn't get it started. i called a tow truck had it towed to my house and worked on it all night. a fuse was blown and after inspecting my fuse box i could see some water in the bottom. i had the car towed (again) to my mechanic, he just called and said my cars computer is fried. new one is 995, and refurbished is 650. #### it! there goes my suspension saving account. please learn from my stupid mistake and be very careful when cleaning under the hood.

*drifterx* · 07-17-2001, 04:06 PM

i never had a problem before..... hmmm.... hey look at it this way... go get a upgraded performance computer....
next time keep your car running... it is better....
also when they say cover the electrical, fuses conduct electricity

**West** · 07-18-2001, 11:02 AM

What computer is he talking about? If its the ECU then there is no way because that is in your cabin. Double check to see what he is charging you for.

Next time you clean an engine just use some citrus cleaner and a cloth <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

rabbit23 · 07-18-2001, 12:40 PM

he is talking about the one in the cabin. i checked the fuse box under the hood and it looked like water had gotten in the bottom of it (i even had it covered). fuse labeled egi was blown (my guess is ignition, don't really know what this fuse is though) after i tried to turn the car back over all of the dashlights were on even after i removed the keys. only way to get them to turn off was by removing egi fuse. i don't see how this could happen either but i trust my mechanic (known him for years).

**West** · 07-18-2001, 01:28 PM

I would say order a JWT ECU for 500-600$ but they still need your old ECU so they might charge you for the new one which is like 1k$ also.

*drifterx* · 07-18-2001, 04:38 PM

listen to me and mark, we have great advice,,, upgrade the ECU to JWT, u wont regret it

rabbit23 · 07-18-2001, 09:33 PM

i do plan on upgrading, i called jwt actually excited after i foung out it was fried but they need a working computer in exchange or an additional 700$. a little out of my price range right now. will the jwt computer for the ka work with the sr20? i don't know much on car electronics but am thinking of the engine swap.

anthony240 · 07-19-2001, 12:32 AM

I clean engines all the time! the only part I cover is the distributor, then I spray some degreaser (we call it slam at the detail shop), and use the pressure washer to wash it off. don't soak your engine, just try and wash out the dirt. we've never had something like that happen.

*drifterx* · 07-19-2001, 03:50 PM

call up for some computers... and if u need a working one then go to the junk yard
maybe i can find u one if u tell me where it is...

*Jeff240sx* · 07-24-2001, 08:06 PM

Listen to Drifterx, last time I needed a core I went to the junk yard and picked up one for $200.  That way, when I wanted to switch back to my stock ecm, I had it.

my240likenoother · 08-20-2001, 07:35 PM

i agree with west use just cleaner and a cloth it looks better and you dont have to worry about nething

but i have done it at the car wash  and never had a prob

JeffNJ · 08-21-2001, 07:40 AM

I mentioned cleaning my engine once to my mechanic and I've never heard him caution against anything else more adimantly (and this is counting back when I owned a pick-up truck and jumped it off train tracks).

A previous customer of his had some of the cleaner leak into one of the wires and slowly drip down until it hit something of major importance, frying the entire electrical system.  I don't remember the details, but I remember it being a huge job for them to replace a ton of stuff under this guy's hood.

With that annecdote in mind, I've never touched my engine with anything more than a damp cloth.

*transient* · 08-21-2001, 10:43 AM

Nice, another track hopper! They big around you??? A friend of mine got quite a bit of air with his parents mini-van once.

gfisch · 08-21-2001, 11:02 AM

Hey, what year is your car?
I have a computer for a '95 5spd SE that I pulled out of my car. It should be working perfectly. The engine was still running fine after my accident.
Email me off-list if you are interested.

Greg
ex-'95SE
[email protected]

lunatik · 08-22-2001, 02:20 AM

LOL, I Bet a Mini-van in mid flight would be quite a Sight!

07-17-2001, 04:03 PM	#1
rabbit23 Zilvia Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 252 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I was wanting to clean my engine over the weekend, I went to the store got some engine degreaser followed the directions. I covered all electronics with plastic. after i was done i rinsed it off let it sit with hood up to really dry out. about 5 hours later i was on the road to go haves some drinks. the car died about 10 miles from my house, i tried everything but couldn't get it started. i called a tow truck had it towed to my house and worked on it all night. a fuse was blown and after inspecting my fuse box i could see some water in the bottom. i had the car towed (again) to my mechanic, he just called and said my cars computer is fried. new one is 995, and refurbished is 650. #### it! there goes my suspension saving account. please learn from my stupid mistake and be very careful when cleaning under the hood.

07-17-2001, 04:06 PM	#2
drifterx Premium Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: boston, ma Age: 43 Posts: 1,533 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i never had a problem before..... hmmm.... hey look at it this way... go get a upgraded performance computer.... next time keep your car running... it is better.... also when they say cover the electrical, fuses conduct electricity

07-18-2001, 11:02 AM	#3
West OMNOMNOMNOM Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Denver, CO Age: 43 Posts: 6,456 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: West Feedback Score: 0 reviews	What computer is he talking about? If its the ECU then there is no way because that is in your cabin. Double check to see what he is charging you for. Next time you clean an engine just use some citrus cleaner and a cloth <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

07-18-2001, 12:40 PM	#4
rabbit23 Zilvia Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 252 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	he is talking about the one in the cabin. i checked the fuse box under the hood and it looked like water had gotten in the bottom of it (i even had it covered). fuse labeled egi was blown (my guess is ignition, don't really know what this fuse is though) after i tried to turn the car back over all of the dashlights were on even after i removed the keys. only way to get them to turn off was by removing egi fuse. i don't see how this could happen either but i trust my mechanic (known him for years).

07-18-2001, 01:28 PM	#5
West OMNOMNOMNOM Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Denver, CO Age: 43 Posts: 6,456 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: West Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I would say order a JWT ECU for 500-600$ but they still need your old ECU so they might charge you for the new one which is like 1k$ also.

07-18-2001, 04:38 PM	#6
drifterx Premium Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: boston, ma Age: 43 Posts: 1,533 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	listen to me and mark, we have great advice,,, upgrade the ECU to JWT, u wont regret it

07-18-2001, 09:33 PM	#7
rabbit23 Zilvia Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 252 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i do plan on upgrading, i called jwt actually excited after i foung out it was fried but they need a working computer in exchange or an additional 700$. a little out of my price range right now. will the jwt computer for the ka work with the sr20? i don't know much on car electronics but am thinking of the engine swap.

07-19-2001, 12:32 AM	#8
anthony240 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Norcal Age: 42 Posts: 1,234 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	I clean engines all the time! the only part I cover is the distributor, then I spray some degreaser (we call it slam at the detail shop), and use the pressure washer to wash it off. don't soak your engine, just try and wash out the dirt. we've never had something like that happen.

07-19-2001, 03:50 PM	#9
drifterx Premium Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: boston, ma Age: 43 Posts: 1,533 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	call up for some computers... and if u need a working one then go to the junk yard maybe i can find u one if u tell me where it is...

07-24-2001, 08:06 PM	#10
Jeff240sx I hate you too... Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tampa, FL Age: 41 Posts: 5,828 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Jeff240sx Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Listen to Drifterx, last time I needed a core I went to the junk yard and picked up one for $200.  That way, when I wanted to switch back to my stock ecm, I had it.

08-20-2001, 07:35 PM	#11
my240likenoother Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,261 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i agree with west use just cleaner and a cloth it looks better and you dont have to worry about nething but i have done it at the car wash  and never had a prob

08-21-2001, 07:40 AM	#12
JeffNJ Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 550 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I mentioned cleaning my engine once to my mechanic and I've never heard him caution against anything else more adimantly (and this is counting back when I owned a pick-up truck and jumped it off train tracks). A previous customer of his had some of the cleaner leak into one of the wires and slowly drip down until it hit something of major importance, frying the entire electrical system.  I don't remember the details, but I remember it being a huge job for them to replace a ton of stuff under this guy's hood. With that annecdote in mind, I've never touched my engine with anything more than a damp cloth.

08-21-2001, 10:43 AM	#13
transient Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Los Angeles, California Age: 40 Posts: 2,947 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Nice, another track hopper! They big around you??? A friend of mine got quite a bit of air with his parents mini-van once.

08-21-2001, 11:02 AM	#14
gfisch Zilvia Junkie Join Date: May 2001 Location: Warren,NJ / Baltimore,MD Age: 43 Posts: 576 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Hey, what year is your car? I have a computer for a '95 5spd SE that I pulled out of my car. It should be working perfectly. The engine was still running fine after my accident. Email me off-list if you are interested. Greg ex-'95SE [email protected]

08-22-2001, 02:20 AM	#15
lunatik Leaky Injector Join Date: May 2001 Location: Largo, Florida Posts: 122 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	LOL, I Bet a Mini-van in mid flight would be quite a Sight!