Just a quick pop-in to pick some brains... because mine is fuzzy right now. Yesterday we had some flash flooding on my way to work, and my D100 started sputtering (like slants do in moisture" so I thought the distributor had gotten wet. I managed to limp into the parking lot at least!

But when the rain stopped, the distributor was completely dry inside. To eliminate possibilities:
Battery is new
Cables are new
HEI module was new when installed, but that's been a while
same for the coil
same for the relay hooked to the HEI
full tank of gas
fuel pump is new

I'm just flabbergasted!

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If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.

Sucked water into air cleaner that is restricting air flow and possibly putting water into motor? I had this happen in DC 2 mo ago in Slantkota in heavy rain. Stopped and pulled air cleaner and it ran fine. I stayed away from puddles/splashing before and after and big difference. I also popped dist cap and it was dry inside.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Also try:

- Start the vehicle up at night, in a dark area, with the hood up.

- Set your garden hose to very fine mist and spritz engine gently on the distributor and wires side.

- Stop spritzing... look around for spooky blue glow where ignition system is leaking to ground.

- Mac

That's an amazing idea!

I don't think any water splashed into the intake, because the carb is pretty high up and the manifolds weren't steaming. But I hooked up a spark plug while somebody bumped the starter- no spark. I checked the dizzy again, still dry inside.

Could the coil have shorted out? I have had coils go bad and they acted like this, but I thought maybe it was rain-related. I hit the puddle at about 30 mph. I figured if the HEI went, it'd be an all-or-nothing deal.

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If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.

UPDATE:
I looked at the coil wire that runs from the coil (Ford Taurus) to the distributor. About 10" from the coil, the coil lead had a small hole where it apparently rubbed on the frame. I can see it had been grounding out, which possibly caused the sputtering.

Would this kill the coil? Even hooking up a spark plug directly to the coil lead, no sparkee.

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If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.

Coil. Good to go now.

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If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.

Hi coconuteater64, glad you found a solution, and on behalf of all members, VERY happy that you continuously report back on your findings!

A lot of forum members ask for advice on a problem, without ever reporting back on the results of their repair/modification - not good!

Olaf.

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Aspenized

Thanks, Olaf. I hope it helps somebody else if they develop similar symptoms.

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If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.