engine issue just happened - feedback requested - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

respawn · 04-29-2014, 03:15 PM

Driving 110 miles from work to home. Storming here in the gulf south. Drove about 30 minutes in pouring down rain and right as it was lightening up my car flipped the hell out on me. Engine light flashing and engine knocking. I pulled off onto the shoulder and turned it off. Nothing foreign under hood or tires. Started up again and it idled very uneasy. I tried to get back onto the interstate as I was no where near an exit. Getting to 20mph it was obvious it was having trouble shifting and the whole front end was twerking. I immediately pulled over again.
I sat there with it idling for about ten minutes. Very unhappy. Transmission?bad gas? Water intake from all that rain and road splash and my cold air so low to the ground? I have an Injen CAI but never had any issues before with rain...
I started giving it gas and it was "mad" but I could tell it wasnt getting worst and actually started to sound better. Kept revving it and its like it worked something out at around 5K rpms...
I waited a little bit longer at reg idle and no more knocking. Don't know if I burned thru something bad in the tank or dried out the air intake but was finally able to get on the road again. Drove it 55 mph for 30 miles until I stopped in the next town (no rain during this time). About 40 miles from home, stopped to get some food. Will see what happens when I leave here. Will see if I can take it and get engine error codes pulled somewhere. Have no real idea wtf that was. Any one with any ideas?
Am I an idiot for continuing to drive it? I just had visions of sitting on the interstate waiting hours for a tow truck and didnt accept it.

FlashBurntFace · 04-29-2014, 03:24 PM

Hit any abnormally large puddles of water? Usually you have to really get that air filter submerged for it to be a problem.

MLAZ1990 · 04-29-2014, 04:01 PM

I was driving and my CEL went on and off, the car was shifting gears badly, and the idle was really uneasy...pulled no codes until dealership scanned it. But for me it was shorted coil pack. I would check all your coils and spark plugs.

respawn · 04-29-2014, 04:22 PM

Thanks guys. Dont know about big puddles, pretty much just flat interstate but it raining so hard I could only see 15 ft in front of me for about 20 minutes. I slowed down from 70 to 40 for a good bit of that.
I managed to make it home. Cammy road fine after stopping. Shifted no problem. Got it to 80 for last 10 miles. Check engine light still on. Anyone know if I can take to pep boys or autozone to pull codes and reset? Dealership is appt only and 100 bucks just to look at my car...

MLAZ1990 · 04-29-2014, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by respawn

Thanks guys. Dont know about big puddles, pretty much just flat interstate but it raining so hard I could only see 15 ft in front of me for about 20 minutes. I slowed down from 70 to 40 for a good bit of that.
I managed to make it home. Cammy road fine after stopping. Shifted no problem. Got it to 80 for last 10 miles. Check engine light still on. Anyone know if I can take to pep boys or autozone to pull codes and reset? Dealership is appt only and 100 bucks just to look at my car...

Autozone scans car for free but I wouldn't trust their scanners. I went to autozone after my CEL flashed and they didn't pull any codes, but the very next day I went to my dealership and they pulled a code immediately. I have heard that autozone and other small shops have cheap scanners and it must be true because of my situation!

respawn · 04-29-2014, 04:55 PM

I stopped by AutoZone and they pulled 16 codes. All misfires on 3 different cylinders. He said he suspected bad gas and sold be some "HEET" for $2.50. I haven't decided if I am going to use it. I figured the $2.50 was worth the free code pulling. I stopped by and topped the tank off with premium gas (91 octane) - about 8 gallons. Will see how she acts the rest of the week.

MLAZ1990 · 04-29-2014, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by respawn

I stopped by AutoZone and they pulled 16 codes. All misfires on 3 different cylinders. He said he suspected bad gas and sold be some "HEET" for $2.50. I haven't decided if I am going to use it. I figured the $2.50 was worth the free code pulling. I stopped by and topped the tank off with premium gas (91 octane) - about 8 gallons. Will see how she acts the rest of the week.

Damn 16 codes? If you have the money, I'd asked the dealership to look at it.

MLAZ1990 · 04-29-2014, 05:05 PM

Don't know much about warranty and all, but shouldn't your car still be under the 5 yr/100,000 mile power train warranty?

Rhyno81 · 04-29-2014, 05:13 PM

a flashing check engine light means its a constant misfire... first thing I would do is pull the coil boots off of the plugs and coils and put some dielectric grease on both ends of the boot . this will help to keep water out in future and prevent corrosion. Then pull any codes that may be stored in the computer. Then isolate the issue. Chances are this was just water related.

Driving with a flashing CEL isn't horrible for brief periods of time, but over extended periods of time will start to throw raw fuel at the Catalytic converters... which isn't really a happy thing

Rock-It Man · 04-29-2014, 08:15 PM

Unfortunately, water intake through CAI is the most likely explanation, given the downpour.

Don't know whether Heet is enough to get the water out.

Avenging Orange · 04-29-2014, 11:16 PM

Nothing like a redline rev to fix those pesky mechanical issues.

respawn · 04-30-2014, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avenging Orange

Nothing like a redline rev to fix those pesky mechanical issues.

Except for I clearly said I went to 5k rpms and anyone that has ever looked at their dash knows that redline is OVER 7k. I was no where near redlining my engine. But thanks for trying to make me feel worst about my situation than I already do. You're a pal.

Hannibal · 04-30-2014, 10:01 AM

There have been several instances of hydro-locked motors after getting water sucked up through a CAI. It's very possible that some water got into the motor.

2010SLVRBULIT · 04-30-2014, 10:10 AM

sounds like your injen turned into a wet/dry vacuum.

04-29-2014, 03:15 PM	#1
respawn Drives: 2010 Syn Green LE Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 129	engine issue just happened - feedback requested Driving 110 miles from work to home. Storming here in the gulf south. Drove about 30 minutes in pouring down rain and right as it was lightening up my car flipped the hell out on me. Engine light flashing and engine knocking. I pulled off onto the shoulder and turned it off. Nothing foreign under hood or tires. Started up again and it idled very uneasy. I tried to get back onto the interstate as I was no where near an exit. Getting to 20mph it was obvious it was having trouble shifting and the whole front end was twerking. I immediately pulled over again. I sat there with it idling for about ten minutes. Very unhappy. Transmission?bad gas? Water intake from all that rain and road splash and my cold air so low to the ground? I have an Injen CAI but never had any issues before with rain... I started giving it gas and it was "mad" but I could tell it wasnt getting worst and actually started to sound better. Kept revving it and its like it worked something out at around 5K rpms... I waited a little bit longer at reg idle and no more knocking. Don't know if I burned thru something bad in the tank or dried out the air intake but was finally able to get on the road again. Drove it 55 mph for 30 miles until I stopped in the next town (no rain during this time). About 40 miles from home, stopped to get some food. Will see what happens when I leave here. Will see if I can take it and get engine error codes pulled somewhere. Have no real idea wtf that was. Any one with any ideas? Am I an idiot for continuing to drive it? I just had visions of sitting on the interstate waiting hours for a tow truck and didnt accept it.

04-29-2014, 03:24 PM	#2
FlashBurntFace Drives: 10' 2SS/RS, LS3, CAI Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Auburn, Indiana Posts: 198	Hit any abnormally large puddles of water? Usually you have to really get that air filter submerged for it to be a problem. __________________ Black 2010 2SS/RS M6 Kooks LT, HFC, Magnaflow Muffler delete, K&N 69 Series CAI much more in the mail and sitting in the garage

04-29-2014, 05:13 PM	#9
Rhyno81 Drives: Summit White 2012 2SS RS M6 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 189	a flashing check engine light means its a constant misfire... first thing I would do is pull the coil boots off of the plugs and coils and put some dielectric grease on both ends of the boot . this will help to keep water out in future and prevent corrosion. Then pull any codes that may be stored in the computer. Then isolate the issue. Chances are this was just water related. Driving with a flashing CEL isn't horrible for brief periods of time, but over extended periods of time will start to throw raw fuel at the Catalytic converters... which isn't really a happy thing __________________ 2012 Summit White 2SS RS M6 -MGW Shifter -Cold Air Inductions CAI -TSP 1 7/8" long tubes with high flow cats -Muffler Delete -Matte Black Powdercoated 20"SS Wheels (General GMax Tires) -BMR Strut Brace -ZL1 Swapped front end

04-29-2014, 11:16 PM	#11
Avenging Orange Drives: 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clermont, IN Posts: 3,297	Nothing like a redline rev to fix those pesky mechanical issues. __________________ 2010 Inferno Orange 2SS/RS M6 Black Leather, Sun Roof, OBX Headers, Borla touring axle back, Cold Air Inductions CAI , non synthetic fluids, BMR total bushing upgrade/1" lowering springs, DSE 32mm rear sway bar. GM fe4 shocks/struts/LCA's, AAM 3.91 diff, Vertini RFS1.8 20x9 +30. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 275/35/20. sjm autoprod ABL dash kit. Mike Norris tuned 413/419. Avenging Orange: 43 years of not buying into the Hype........and damn proud of it!! https://youtu.be/9JD9it6SmB8 https://youtu.be/xmelTlEzI34 KICKING CANCERS ASS SINCE 2015!!

04-29-2014, 04:01 PM	#3
MLAZ1990 Drives: 2012 black camaro 2LS Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 3,023 View My Garage	I was driving and my CEL went on and off, the car was shifting gears badly, and the idle was really uneasy...pulled no codes until dealership scanned it. But for me it was shorted coil pack. I would check all your coils and spark plugs.

04-29-2014, 04:22 PM	#4
respawn Drives: 2010 Syn Green LE Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 129	Thanks guys. Dont know about big puddles, pretty much just flat interstate but it raining so hard I could only see 15 ft in front of me for about 20 minutes. I slowed down from 70 to 40 for a good bit of that. I managed to make it home. Cammy road fine after stopping. Shifted no problem. Got it to 80 for last 10 miles. Check engine light still on. Anyone know if I can take to pep boys or autozone to pull codes and reset? Dealership is appt only and 100 bucks just to look at my car...

04-29-2014, 04:55 PM	#6
respawn Drives: 2010 Syn Green LE Camaro Join Date: May 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 129	I stopped by AutoZone and they pulled 16 codes. All misfires on 3 different cylinders. He said he suspected bad gas and sold be some "HEET" for $2.50. I haven't decided if I am going to use it. I figured the $2.50 was worth the free code pulling. I stopped by and topped the tank off with premium gas (91 octane) - about 8 gallons. Will see how she acts the rest of the week.

04-29-2014, 05:05 PM	#8
MLAZ1990 Drives: 2012 black camaro 2LS Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 3,023 View My Garage	Don't know much about warranty and all, but shouldn't your car still be under the 5 yr/100,000 mile power train warranty?

04-29-2014, 08:15 PM	#10
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,043 View My Garage	Unfortunately, water intake through CAI is the most likely explanation, given the downpour. Don't know whether Heet is enough to get the water out.

04-30-2014, 10:01 AM	#13
Hannibal Drives: Camaro SS & ZL1 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Southeast USA Posts: 527	There have been several instances of hydro-locked motors after getting water sucked up through a CAI. It's very possible that some water got into the motor.

04-30-2014, 10:10 AM	#14
2010SLVRBULIT Drives: G5(LLT) & C6(LS3) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: MARS Posts: 7,525 View My Garage	sounds like your injen turned into a wet/dry vacuum.