Yesterday I needed to give the engine compartment a rinse as it had been inadvertently covered in coating of fine sawdust. I've done this before with no adverse effects but this time I went at it a bit more aggressively. She started up fine but the check engine, the VSA under that and the VSA off ! warning lights all lit up. As she was idling away nicely I thought a little drive down the highway getting everything up to temp would resolve the issue.

Wrong.

As soon as I tagged 3000 rpm it started to misfire very badly. I eased off and as long as I stayed below 3000 she seemed to run okay, and she did... for about 5 miles when she quit completely. Started back up and slowly pulled out looking for the next exit. Sometimes I would get a 1/4 mile, other times just a few hundred feet before she died. By now I'm 10 miles from home thinking it'll be a miracle if I make it back. Then with a couple of miles left, after she quit for the 12th or 15th time, both VSA lights stayed out, I slowly nudged 3000 and beyond with no problem and the rest of the way home was fine with just the check engine light still on.

Started her up this afternoon and the check engine light came back on but after a short drive to the store that went away and all is as it was before.

Lesson learned I guess. Light and gentle rinse okay, power hose, not so much.

 

ive pressure washed mine a few times. never had an issue. maybe your fuse box top wasnt on or something.