Washer nozzle killed engine - seriously

[Lanorg]

Here's a new one... Video of the issue: https://youtu.be/959B8WWvAvM

Back story: rebuilt the 01e and had my turbo journals replaced. Replaced a dead starter, the coil paks, valve cover gasket leaks, windshield wiper likage, and now it's been running for a few months with a couple thousand km on the turbo bearings break in. Haven't had any weird shit going on. Some whine from the throw out bearing, tranny is smooth. 02 sensor went on me. Otherwise no different than pre rebuild.

Story:
Fire it up, idle for 30-60 seconds while waiting for a traffic gap (recently did an o2 sensor which was free so I'm still grinning about that) get up to second gear and hit a light. Slow to a stop and its raining. Wipers are on and I think, wonder if I still have water in the washer fluid reservoir... spray washer nozzles - engine dies before they come onto full pressure on the windshield but I can tell there's winter fluid in them. Interesting. No blown fuses, but also won't restart. Lots of clicking going on that stops when I remove the fuel pump fuse and returns when I reinstall it with the key turned to ACC. Still not starting and the rpm and speedo seem to move on their own (car is stopped).

While I managed to not get rear ended while waiting for a buddy to tow me home (up hill, believe me. I tried), there has been some really crazy shit going on that scream electrical gremlins. Let me elaborate.

EPC and CEL lights are flashing incredibly fast with a just as fast click noise (think blinker on speed) which when listing at the engine bay with the hood up can be identified as a clicking noise at the throttle body (confirmed this by unplugging it and plugging back in). This cluster shit show occurs when the key is inserted and turned to ACC. Starting attempt turns motor over and fuel pressure gauge (after 30-45 minutes of intermittent starting attempts) still shows 50psi at the engine. Air, Spark, Fuel. I'm guessing air is getting there along with fuel but perhaps spark is not, or ECU lines have some sort of kink or short due to water and its going all helen keller on me.

I fiddle with the ECU wires a bit (both at the ecu and beneath them) and then ACC key position doesn't cause the clicking noise. Engine starts momentarily and immediately dies again. Now same clicking shenannigans with EPC and CEL.

Da fak? Test ecu connections for a short in a wire? Get this: taking the bumper off for access to the tow hook somehow managed to flash the 4 ways for one flash. I thought I was hallucinating but my buddy pointed it out as well.

I really like this car when it runs. Right now it doesn't. Any assistance is appreciated and thanks for reading this much.

[big_jerm]

when you turn the key to the on position your not getting a check engine light are you? looks like in the video it isn't on. when you have it in the on position (not running) the engine light should be on. if it's off you have a problem with the ecu. this happened to me when i went to flash my ecu with the tune i bought. it bricked my ecu and fried a chip inside. thankfully josh at solomotorsports was able to repair it with a new chip. but it looks like you have a problem with either the connection to the ecu or the ecu itself


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[okkim]

OT: turbos won't need break in. The shaft doesn't touch the bearing surface (at least it shouldn't.)

[Nollywood]

Sounds like something that should be dry, is wet. I would be looking inside the ECU box / scuttle area.

[88ninety9]

Sounds like something that should be dry, is wet. I would be looking inside the ECU box / scuttle area.

This. I had an issue similar to this, had moisture in the ecu box. Also pretty important to make sure all of the screws are there as well

[Lanorg]

thanks guys i'll dry it out and reseal the box that holds the ecu... which is coincidentally immediately next to the washer lines and wiper motor... hmmm.

I've gotta clean the debris behind there anyway.