I recently bought a 91 blk/ivory. the previous owner disclosed that if you drive the car in the rain water drains into the engine and damages" the coils" (what are the coils), Is this a common problem with the 91's or do I just have bad fortune?.
NSX in the rain
- Thread starter XJES06
- Start date
XJES06 said:
Sounds to me like you have the bad fortune to be conversing with a previous owner who doesn't know what the heck he's talking about.
I hope he's not talking about the Volkswagen NSX, commonly know as "The Bug".
I have a 91 and drive it thru rainstorms and typhoons etc. No problems except take it slow. No way would water get inside the engine compartment and damge the coils. please read the owner's manuel and have fun. the car is almost bullet proof if you look after it. afraid the previous owner is not really knowledgeable about this car. also visit this web-site regularly, you will learn a lot about this hand-built precision driving machine.
Haven't some NSX owners gotten their "coils wet" when they do an engine cleaning?
NSX/MR2
Suspended
I don't know about anyone else, but I have driven my NSX in the rain many time before, especially when I was in Oklahoma, and not a single problem occured. You have to get caught in the middle of a storm or something for the engine or anything else to get damage.
Cars nowadays are meant to be driven in all weather conditions in exception of extreme situations like blizzards, avalanches, tornados, etc. As I hope most people are aware of the fact that the NSX is made in the 90s, don't apply the same to your Model T.
What he is refering to is the propensity for some older NSXs to develop coil problems (especially on the more exposed bank of coils) due to moisture problems. Big problem? No. Does it mean you shouldn't drive in the rain (or other silliness)? Hell, no. But in some cars they will go bad and need to be replaced (ask me how I know). This guy is probably reacting to the thought on the part of some techs who think they could have been designed a little better...but they're not a cause for alarm, and it doesn't sound like they're a glaring design deficiency, either.
I changed the plugs on the rear cylinder bank on the weekend. I noticed that the underside of one coil had surface rust. Now this car spent quite some time in the showroom before I got it. I'm wondering if water got under the coil cover when the car was washed, but not driven afterward to help it dry out. Just a guess.
The car runs fine so the coil is still ok internally.
The car runs fine so the coil is still ok internally.
Believe it or not the advice given in the first post is correct IF THE COIL COVERS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED UPSIDE DOWN. I have seen this condition on two cars that were serviced by dealers before arriving at my garage. The covers are marked Front and Rear but it is possible to install them reversed top to bottom. Check your service manual for details.
Thanx for the info....but I still have some issues.....1) I didn't get an owners manual with the car so I am looking for one. 2) What are the coils anyway?
Does the car have the stock air intake system? I've heard that some aftermarket air induction systems have a tendency to let water in during heavy rain through the air intake vents in front of the rear wheels.
Coil is the ignition coil. NSX has ignition coil for each cylinder.
I had the problem with water in the coil/plug hole. It turned out to be that the gasket on the coil cover was installed incorrectly. You need to have the rubber gasket installed toward the top of the engine.
In heavy rain, water comes into the engine bay from the top through the air vent between the engine hatch glass and the trunk. This water drops directly onto the coil cover on the rear side of the engine. If the gasket is not installed correctly, the water will seep into the coil bank causing water in the spark plug hole and rusted coil. I reinstalled the gasket correctly and sealed it and I had no problem in heavy rain two weekends ago.
Download this http://www.nsxhelp.com/Service_Manual.pdf
Page 6-23 has a drawing of the coil and how it is installed.
I had the problem with water in the coil/plug hole. It turned out to be that the gasket on the coil cover was installed incorrectly. You need to have the rubber gasket installed toward the top of the engine.
In heavy rain, water comes into the engine bay from the top through the air vent between the engine hatch glass and the trunk. This water drops directly onto the coil cover on the rear side of the engine. If the gasket is not installed correctly, the water will seep into the coil bank causing water in the spark plug hole and rusted coil. I reinstalled the gasket correctly and sealed it and I had no problem in heavy rain two weekends ago.
Download this http://www.nsxhelp.com/Service_Manual.pdf
Page 6-23 has a drawing of the coil and how it is installed.
lol
look out for those avalanches
look out for those avalanches
Re: lol
jadkar said:look out for those avalanches
Is it just me or was that truck styled after a tennis shoe? 
Autophile said:Is it just me or was that truck styled after a tennis shoe?
Yeah, Shaq's size [size=+2]23[/size] shoes!
Yeah, I have heard that about rain in the coils too. I have also heard that you have to be careful not to channel 1.21 Gigawats in the flux capacitor or it will take you back in time to when Miami Vice was considered cool. GO CROCKET AND TUBS!!!!!!!!
but one thing I notice after I took off the engince cover is that when water enteres theres fog inside the hatc.. cuz the rubber spacer on the engince cover's gone
Re: Re: lol
nsxtasy said:[/BHey I have a avalanche and a NSX. Now why in the hell would Acura make a 90K car that you can't even drive in the rain? Don't forget the NSX is only a very very fancy Honda . and thus pretty bullit proof.....]
I have driven my NSX in the rain, snow, etc. and never had a problem. I even wash the engine and engine bay almost every time I wash the car....mine is also a 1991 black/ivory.
mason@tirerack said:
Mason, are you saying that spray water on the engine and inside the engine bay,
or do you mean you just detail it when you wash the rest of the car?Regards.
Similar threads
- Locked
