Help needed with '01 Tracker

slideman

14
0
Gender:
My 87 Samy!!

My wife's '01 Tracker has about 125,000 miles on it and runs fine until we have morning with a heavy dew or when it is raining. Under conditions like that it has a rough idle, will not take fuel when you press the accelerator, and basically runs like crap. If you shut it down for awhile and start it back up it runs fine again. It did it one other time a few weeks ago when we were in traffic and running the air. Again I shut it down and let it sit a few minutes and it was fine when I started it back up.
The check engine light does not come on when it acts up.

Any ideas what could be causing this (EGR valve, distributer cap, ...)?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Rick

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bentparts

4536
60
Gender:
I'd rather be Blown AND Injected.

Re: Help needed with '01 Tracker

« Reply #1 on: June 15, 2010, 05:08:24 AM »

I'd start by checking the plug wires, dist cap and all other electrical connections pertaining to the ignition. Sounds like a bit of moisture is getting into the ignition system. I've experienced a similar problem after power washing my engine, that's before I treated everything with dielectric grease, plugs, plug wires and caps, electrical connections etc.

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The usual stuff, and 2nd generation Air to liquid intercooled TURBOCHARGER

Trackerprts

106
2
Gender:
Aiirbag

Re: Help needed with '01 Tracker

« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2010, 07:54:59 PM »

First check for water in the sparkplug hole it may have water in there if not replace the spark plug boots (wires). Napa has them. If you get them from the dealer you have to buy the coil with it for $125.
My tracker did this for years before I found just the boots.
I would not pay $500 for spark plug wires.

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99 Tracker pieced together out of 3 cars. RR Body and suspension lift ,31 10.5r15
winch bumper,rock sliders

Bobthebiker

Re: Help needed with '01 Tracker

« Reply #3 on: June 15, 2010, 08:27:45 PM »

Quote from: bentparts on June 15, 2010, 05:08:24 AM

I'd start by checking the plug wires, dist cap and all other electrical connections pertaining to the ignition. Sounds like a bit of moisture is getting into the ignition system. I've experienced a similar problem after power washing my engine, that's before I treated everything with dielectric grease, plugs, plug wires and caps, electrical connections etc.

This is EXACTLY what my first thoughts are too. moisture plus a spark plug wire with a leaky boot somewhere=no spark. I had a ninja 500 that did this EVERY FRIKKIN TIME it rained until I figured it out and changed the plug boot.

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slideman

14
0
Gender:
My 87 Samy!!

Re: Help needed with '01 Tracker

« Reply #4 on: June 16, 2010, 03:18:31 AM »

Thanks guys, I will look tonight. I was looking last night and found a hose dis-connected on the backside of the air filter top. At the end of this hose is an electrical connection. I re-connected the hose and it ran fine for her last nght, but then it wasn't wet last night, we'll see what happens.

With all this electrical crap on her Tracker, it sure makes me appreciate my '87 Samurai even more!!

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