What to Do If the Car Won't Start After Washing?
3 Answers
If the car won't start after washing, first check whether the air filter and carburetor are wet. If they are, clean them thoroughly, and the car should start. If the air filter and carburetor are not wet, the issue is usually caused by moisture in the ignition circuit or electrical components. In this case, no repair is needed—simply let the car dry completely, and it should start. The water pressure of professional car wash guns is crucial; it should be between 4 to 7 MPa. If the pressure is too low, the car won't be cleaned properly, and if it's too high, the water flow may carry paint particles and damage the paint layer. The car washing process consists of seven steps: preparation, receiving the car, rinsing, applying foam, exterior wiping, interior wiping, and inspection.
I've encountered this situation before where the car wouldn't start after washing. At first, I thought the battery was dead, but later found out it was because water got into the ignition system during washing, wetting the spark plugs. In such cases, don't rush to repeatedly try starting the engine. First, open the hood to check for any obvious standing water, then gently dry the key components like the distributor and wire connectors using an electric fan or hair dryer. Wait about half an hour before attempting to start the engine again. If it still doesn't work, you should check if any fuses have blown or if the air filter is water-clogged, affecting air intake. When washing your car normally, avoid high-pressure spraying near the underside of the hood and front bumper areas to prevent similar issues. It's safer to have a professional auto repair shop check it out to prevent damage to the electronic systems.
It's really annoying when the car won't start after washing. I panicked for a while that time too. It's mostly caused by water short-circuiting the electrical components. A simple solution is to wait for a while to let the moisture evaporate naturally, and avoid continuous attempts to start the engine to prevent damaging the starter. Check if the battery terminals are loose or corroded, and a wet air filter can also affect engine operation. For safety, wait about 15 minutes before trying again. If it still doesn't work, call for roadside assistance and get it towed—don't attempt DIY fixes. When washing the car, remind the car washer not to spray the engine area aggressively—prevention is better than dealing with trouble later. If washing the car yourself, use cloths more often and avoid using high-pressure water jets on sensitive areas whenever possible.
