This morning I went to the car wash and got carried away in the engine bay. It looks great but won't start (properly).

Please let me know of some ideas to try out. Any advice is greatly appreciated!


Before car wash:
*no codes (pending nor ready)
*starting and running as usual
*extremely dirty engine bay

During car wash:
*blasted grime away from nearly every place imaginable with the pressure washer wand (regrettably) including under the fuse box area (with cover on) and around the PCM

After car wash:
*will not crank or start in park
*codes: P0136, P0169 (if I recall correctly)
*single ignition solenoid click in park with each turn of key to "start"
*will crank/start sporadically in park with brake pushed down and key turned to "start"
*will start in neutral
*a few drops of moisture in the fuse box

Recent changes:
*fueled up this morning with 87 (usual) and a bottle of Techron Fuel System Cleaner (ran normally, including many on/off cycles throughout the morning).
*several weeks ago I installed a new neutral safety switch (has been functioning properly since install)

What I've tried:
*charged the battery
*replaced OEM battery terminals
*checked a couple fuses
*wiggled a few connectors
*sanded down all contacts of battery to body ground

 

Update (while driving the vehicle):
*instrument cluster occasionally stops functioning
*occasional "low fuel" notification
*often displaying "stability system failed" & "ABS failed"
*pass-lock red light turns on solid for half of the time
*same no-start in park issue
*still starting in neutral
*ScanGaugeII flickers on and off for minutes at a time
*factory stereo powers off completely for minutes at a time

 

Dry it out, compressor air gun or leave hood open and wait for it. Then go to the connectors and clean/seal. Also, pull the cops, and inspect for water intrusion. Btw, check your coolant overflow tank level.

 

Hummerz, I believe today is the day I make you proud. I was waiting for this exact image from you so I could respond with this beautiful image:


In honor of Hummerz

 

I will plan to wait for everything to dry. I have been driving it around to get it warm and air out. It's parked in the garage now and hopefully tomorrow it'll be nice and dry everywhere. I bought your two ingredients and will plan to clean and seal connectors. What do you mean by "cops"? Thank you for the coolant tip haha. I suppose this is a "hanging dirty laundry" sort of situation.

 

What's the ambient temp? Here it's 50's and damp, you may need to run a space heater overnight(if it's cool damp in the garage)? Best is outside with airflow on a hot day.
Coil On Plug(cop), pull the the bolt and inspect inside. Your coolant tank looked overfull, or may be nasty? Full should be at the tank seam. GL

 

It's in the high 70's and super dry here and my garage is probably in the 90's, which is helpful for my dilemma. I will be sure to check the COPs and thank you for your helpful knowledge. My coolant reservoir is actually low, but I see how it looks overfilled in the photo. It actually has blue coolant. I'll flush the coolant and fill it properly soon.

 

You should be good to go in a day. On a side note, I pressure wash my electrical appliances when they get dirty, window/floor fans, space heaters, shop/floor vacuums, air cleaner/purifiers, etc. Just let them dry out, never had a problem, & all look/work just like new.

 

leaf blower.

 

I hope so... I feel re-assured with your pressure washing electrical stuff. I'm concerned it is something else and not the fuse block.

​A leaf blower would be nice haha.