CEL Came on dealer says H20 in Cylinder & bad coil

[tripleM]

How can water get into my unmodified car?

I had the front end repaired from a front end collision 1 month ago.
Could the engine have been rained on?

 

[tom slick]

head gasket leak? intake manifold leak?

 

[rg200amp]

I would think its only a bad coil. H20 in Cylinder would not cause a CEL.

What kind of car is it???

I know ford warrants there coils. They may not want to fix the coil under warranty, so the dealer blames the malfunction on water.

There are many variables. Tell us some more info on the car. I would have it looked at another shop or dealer.

 

[rg200amp]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
head gasket leak? intake manifold leak?

That is a strong possability

 

[tripleM]

Originally Posted By: rg200amp
I would think its only a bad coil. H20 in Cylinder would not cause a CEL.

What kind of car is it???

I know ford warrants there coils. They may not want to fix the coil under warranty, so the dealer blames the malfunction on water.

There are many variables. Tell us some more info on the car. I would have it looked at another shop or dealer.



2006 Mazda3.
63k.
Stock.

It is out of warranty. The question is during the front end collision repair, could the body shop have left the car out in the rain with an open hood?

Would that have caused it possibly?

Also in re: head gasket or manifold leak - how can water get under the hood to get into those areas?

There was no flooding in my area nor did I run into any huge puddles that I can recall.

 

[Donald]

Do an oil analysis and see whats in the oil? Any water or antifreeze? A compression test should tell about a head gasket leak.

 

[brianl703]

Originally Posted By: tripleM

It is out of warranty. The question is during the front end collision repair, could the body shop have left the car out in the rain with an open hood?


Yes, they could have...which would have filled your sparkplug well with water.

Quote:
Also in re: head gasket or manifold leak - how can water get under the hood to get into those areas?


I don't see a head gasket leak causing a sparkplug well to fill up with water. I don't think any of the engines Mazda uses have coolant going through the intake manifold.

 

[tripleM]

Originally Posted By: brianl703
Originally Posted By: tripleM

It is out of warranty. The question is during the front end collision repair, could the body shop have left the car out in the rain with an open hood?


Yes, they could have...which would have filled your sparkplug well with water.

Quote:
Also in re: head gasket or manifold leak - how can water get under the hood to get into those areas?


I don't see a head gasket leak causing a sparkplug well to fill up with water. I don't think any of the engines Mazda uses have coolant going through the intake manifold.


Brian - I am suspecting this more & more.
Either that or they sprayed the engine to clear off the dust.
Gasket leak would be extraordinary for sure.

 

[brianl703]

I hose off the engine on my car every once in a while, but when I do I take it for a drive to get the engine nice and hot to dry it off.

 

[02Pilot]

If there was enough water in the cylinder to be noticeable after the car has been run, the result would most likely have been a bent or broken connecting rod, as the engine would have hydrolocked on the first compression stroke. Clarify what the mechanic means by "water in the cylinder" - he could have meant coolant - but I suspect the problem is the coil pack and nothing more.

 

[tripleM]

Originally Posted By: 02Pilot
If there was enough water in the cylinder to be noticeable after the car has been run, the result would most likely have been a bent or broken connecting rod, as the engine would have hydrolocked on the first compression stroke. Clarify what the mechanic means by "water in the cylinder" - he could have meant coolant - but I suspect the problem is the coil pack and nothing more.


thanks for your insight.
I had the coil pack replaced & I confirmed it wasn't coolant.

I am still unsured what the coil pack has to do with water.
Is it an electrical short issue?

What I also noticed prior to this repair was there was noticeable - - what I assumed - was piston slap - upon startup which eventually went away after 10 minutes of travel. The question for me then becomes was that just water I was hearing sloshing around in the cylinders?

My body shop has some explaining to do.