Never needed everyone's help this much...

[J30Guy612]

1993 J30, 144,000 miles.

Previous to today, the car was sitting for about a year, and was started about once a week, no problems before I let the car sit, car was running fine.

Just put the car back on the road yesterday, and it was running fine all day yesterday, and this morning on my way to work.

I was at work, and on my lunch break I decided to take the car for a wash.

Ok so the car is running fine and I pull up to the car wash. It was freezing out, so I leave the heat on full blast, and start washing the car. When I return the car is not running.

I go to start up the car, and it fires right up, jumps to 1000RPM for one second, then dies So now I'm really worried (still in the car wash bay).

I try again, and again, same thing. Fires right up first shot, then dies.

I start it up and keep my foot on the gas, and it takes more pressure on the accelerator to get it higher in the RPM range, but it does wind up all the way to 6K, no problem, running a little rough though.

I was hoping I could bring the car up in the RPM range, and clear out whatever the problem was. No luck. The car continues to start and die unless my foot is on the gas pedal.

I get it out of the car wash bay, and park it on the side of the road. Try bringing the RPMs up in Park and Neutral, letting it sit for a while, etc. The car starts to idle if I bring the RPMs down VERY slowly, and it's idling around 2-300RPM (barely running).

My first thought is the idle isn't high enough for whatever reason, so I get the manual, and adjust the idle control screw. No luck, no change either way, still just running really rough, barely, at 2-300RPM.

I limped the car home by keeping it in 1st/2nd gears so the RPMs won't fall to sharp when I am slowing down.

My friend tells me there is some black smoke coming out of the exhuast pipe, and I am not sure if this could be because I played with the Idle Control Screw. I don't think so, because this only effects the idle, right?

I am thinking the worst, something engine related...

What could this possible be? I have never had ANY problems with my J30 until now, this car has been great.

I will be checking this post all night and all day tomorrow. The car is outside, I am willing to try anything or provide any information you need to help me.

SORRY FOR THE LONG POST, IF YOUR STILL READING THANKS SO MUCH!!!

[Q451990]

Did you spray any water under the hood?

My first guess would be the MAF or it's connection... but that's just a wild guess.

Heath

[J30Guy612]

Underneath the hood was totally dry when I popped it, about 2-3 minutes after the car wash

[maxnix]

If the fan was runnig at all, there has to be some water vapor under the hood.

How old is the gas? I would invest in a bottle or two of ISO-HEET.

Your starting routine the previous year is a great way to foul your plugs. Hopefully you changed the oil before starting to drive it.
Modified by maxnix at 9:37 PM 2/3/2007

[J30Guy612]

Yep, did change the oil

[Q45tech]

Current Gasoline has a useful life of about 30 days from manufacture and cars are designed to be driven at least a hundred miles per week to heat the oil above 212F to evaprate the condensation [water].