Steam cleaned engine bay. 'oops'

[mjh500]

Having just steam cleaned my engine bay [chim500] i have come across a problem. I know its not advisable to do this but i like things to look clean.The engine bay is totally dried out now and i have removed all electrial plugs and sprayed with electrical cleaner ect. I now have a problem with the coil lead arcking out on whatever it touches causing bad running.The leads are only a week old and everything is dry and looks ok. I have noticed a spade connection next to the main distributer electrical plug which has no cable connected. Is this supposed to be an earth wire or anything else? Does the distributer have to earthed? Any help would be greatfull. thanks...

[shpub]

The is no adviseable about it.... Shouldn't be done PERIOD. The electric system is not designed to cope with that sort of treatment.

As for arcing out, I suspect that the steam cleaning has possible damaged the coil.

[GreenV8S]

As Steve says, all bets are now off. Steam gets into every little nook and cranny and condenses into water, you have probably got damp trapped inside various 'waterproof' sensor housings that will be with you forever. Suggest you replace the HT leads and hope that cures the immediate problem, but won't be too surprised if it doesn't. On the loose wire thing, your best bet is to find someone at your local regional monthly meeting with a similar car and see how theirs is connected.