Washing the Engine Compartment

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by jhv48

I must not have covered the starter solenoid well enough as water got on it and shorted out the solenoid causing the starter to engage and try and start the engine.

You know, I have, occasionally, when I was doing something with the engine, reached in to the cockpit from outside the car and started it up -- thinking afterwards, "damn, I'm glad it was in neutral." I have also, from time to time, absent mindedly left the ignition key in the car -- tempting someone to reach in and turn the key -- and I usually leave the car in gear. When I blew my clutch out years ago out in the middle of nowhere I drove the car up on to the flatbed using nothing more than the old stock Ford monster 50 lb. starter motor -- so I know that thing can power the Cobra with no problem whatsoever. I have toyed with the idea of making use of the TKO's neutral safety switch. But, I don't know if even a NSS would stop a water short to the solenoid.