Well, it finally happened.

A lovely Florida evening at sunset; pull into the gulf-side joint for a bite; with the top down, of course; ten minutes later glance out the window and it's pouring buckets - I mean buckets.

The angle of the deluge was directly into the dash and console - like a fire hose. Soaked. In any event, the Infinity was on the fritz for a day, everything else on the console seems to work, but the biggest issue is the auto-stick electronics.

The transmission and ignition interlock is a disaster. The 'gear designation' does not appear on the dash, and once the car is started, it will go with some difficulty into gear. But the transmission is stuck in second gear. Second gear, only. It will go back up into neutral, but is blocked physically from going past reverse into park. Only when the key is turned off will is allowed to shift back into park. When I drive around for a bit in second gear and at 25mph, the wing will deploy. Not funny, tho.

Has anyone out there ever experienced this? I suppose my only resort is to limp to the stealership, in second gear, and surrender to an unknown fate.

Anyone?

 

when did this happen if it was yesterday give it a chance to dry out maybe even use a hair dryer before going to the dealer

 

I second this opinion. In Florida, it may take more than 1 day to dry anything out.

I was training at Eglin AFB in 1975, and I didn't dry out for 3 weeks.

I was also stuck in East Kilbride, Scotland at a pub. I haven't dried out yet!

 

This is my initial reaction, too. Just let it dry out in the sun.

I'm no expert on electronics, and not sure if once wet certain electronics are ever the same. I know from experience that if the brain gets too soaked in rum, it might never come back.

You're my kinda' guy, max. Thanks for the advice.

 

I agree, Dwight, let it dry out throughly & see what happens. As long as nothing shorted out when you initially powered-up the car you just might get out of this one clean!
Hope for the best!!!

 

Well, I feel better now. TWICE in 6 weeks, I have come VERY CLOSE to the same experience.

First time, the rain stayed just south of the house I was at... got about 10 drops on the car. But had it been a bit north, I'd be in your shoes right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Second time, I was drviign and pulled over as the rain started.

========

Anyway, I took my console apart last week, (damn cupholder...) not that much in there - so if there IS water in the harnesses and switches, should not be TOO bad to change them out. I can't imagine the module for the transmission control is exposed - likely it's up under the dash or IN the transmission. (SOmeone here knows.)

As for the sound system, well, those are not expensive to replace with Kenwood/etc. products.

 

Sorry to hear your car was drowned.

The stereo amp, and I believe the trans module are both located under the passenger
floor board.

Disconnecting the battery should be a priority, at this point. The short circuits created with the water can really raise heck with electronics.

The car may never be the same.
Hope your insurance will make this right for you.

 

It's in limp mode if you only have second gear and reverse. I'd let it dry out and disconnect the battery and see if it resets.

 

Thanks for the tip. Upon inspection from above and below, tho, no indication of equipment in this location. Only one cable-group of six wires from the floorboard up into the seat bottom, similar to the driver's side. Six wires intended for three motors?... not sure why passenger seat doesn't just have four.

 

This nice little car has a 'limp mode'?... what will they think of next. A handy innovation indeed.

Thanks for the tip.

 

https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...tion-pics.html

 

I see now. The power-amp gear is actually laying 'on a near-vertical slant' up against the firewall so-to-speak. (I've always wondered why the leg room on the passenger side is so marginalized) In any event, according to the pics and wiring diagrams, it does not appear that any gear associated with the autostick is housed within this recess. My Infinity system is fine, since this area of the floorboard is well up under the dash and protected from anything but the Great Flood of Noah.

Thanks for your help.

 

If this hasn't been said before:

could you have moved your W/S switch to "W"? Doen't that make you at least start in 2nd gear?

Or could it be shorted to "W"?

 

Nope, nothing that simple I'm afraid.

Everything is dry, reset the battery, Infinity system is fine, W/S not implicated. Definitely looks like we've got a fritzed out auto-stick. Stumped.

Limped 'er to the stealership, got my loaner, we'll see ...

 

Electric motors should have two wires to them, power and ground. Motors can be reversible so two wires per motor versus 4 per. 3 motors at 2 wires each make 6 wires.

 

We used to use a garden hose to "wash" our electrical equipment when I worked in Korea on old microwave radios and TV transmitters. Always worked once everything was allowed to dry out.

You could send the XF to me in DRY Arizona for a while. I'll let ya know when you can come and pick it back up!

 

All this newfangled technology, spoiled by a bit of bad weather.

In the old days we wouldn't have shorted out the computer. Damm things fault for the slightest reason.


Nope, in the old days, car would have just started, and then ran just fine.

Or caught on fire.


roadster with a stick

 

UPDATE: Just got back from the stealership.

This unfortunate incident, which I doubt is the first time it's ever happened, got wiring somewhere wet enough to set off random code faults. In my case the faults disabled the autostick, the ABS system, the BAS/ESP and the wing of all things. Again, entirely random events based upon any shorts or back feed into the grounding bus.

A couple of these faults reintroduced themselves on the way home. We'll dry out in the Florida sun for a few more days and see what happens.

Just call it a top down 'teachable moment'.

 

I understand the two-wires per motor thing, so couldn't get why the passenger seat didn't have just four. Forgot about the seat heater.

 

Well, it's been ten days and all systems seem to be back in order. One by one, all faults seem to have 'dried out', the idiot lights have gone dark and even the wing has retracted. Keep in mind this is with famously consistent 90% Florida relative humidity. So, I guess ...

... Lesson Learned: . If your console and dash are especially dirty, go ahead and use the garden hose. No big deal.