Engine misfires after rain storm

kbryant

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 20, 2013
Messages
161
Hi
I have a 2011 Tahoe Q5i 4.3 MPI. Runs great at idle - no issues starting - under a load it misfires and backfires after sitting in a rain storm. I had this issue before about 2 years ago. Shop said it was a loose battery cable. Worked fine for 1 1/2 years until last week it sat in the rain. I’ve just replaced battery and fuel filter and check pickup tube. Anyone else have this issue and some ideas where to begin.
 

matt167

Rear Admiral
Joined
Sep 27, 2012
Messages
4,448
New distributior cap, rotor, and wires with di electric grease in the connections.. see if it comes back. It probably won’t
 

kbryant

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 20, 2013
Messages
161
Do you think it will continue to do the same problems after I change those out?
 

Scott06

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
7,509
Do you think it will continue to do the same problems after I change those out?
No that why he suggested to replace. Typical symptom of misfire when wet is bad cap rotor and wires. If you don’t know when they were replaced start there. Check your timing and spark plug condition as well.
 

kenny nunez

Captain
Joined
Jun 20, 2017
Messages
3,542
Does your engine cover allow water to land on the distributor? If so water is getting inside the distributor body through the flame arrestor screen on the side. You will have to rig up some type of shield to flow the water away.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
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Jul 23, 2011
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52,842
you should have the crab cap..... those are a replace nearly every other year regardless type of thing. because the cap breaks down internally.
 

kbryant

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 20, 2013
Messages
161
Hello,
Here is an update - I replaced the Cap, rotor, plugs and wires, pickup tube and fuel filter. Boat ran great for about 10 minutes and now doing the same thing ither than it is not back firing anymore -- Just will not go on a load. I have ordered a new Ignition coil and see if that helps. Any other thoughts on what it could be? Thank you again for all the help.
 

Scott06

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
7,509
Or my favorite Easy Go to " throw a timing light on a coil wire test"
i have become fond of the spark gap tester for this so you can see how strong the spark is vs just there.

ten or so years back went through an older evinrude outboard. Last thing I replaced was the coils - this was after fuel pump, carb rebuild, points and condensers... I had spark showing but it was weak as hell, ohm'd the coils and it was one of the few times I actually had a bad coil (2 in 40 years of wrenching). Both coils were way out of spec on ohm test but it still ran just not for chit when you hammered down
 
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