Dear Tom and Ray:

It started last fall as I was driving my wife's '94 Taurus. When I depressed the windshield washer button, the car immediately stalled. I had to get the car towed to a Ford dealer, who analyzed the problem and told me that water in the distributor had caused the car to stall. A couple of months later I used the washer again with similar results. When I took the car to a different mechanic and told him what happened, he said, "Impossible ... there ain't no way the windshield washer can make the car stall." The mechanic tried to duplicate the problem, but, of course, it wouldn't stall for him. Do you have any idea what can be wrong? -- Mark

Tom: I know exactly what's wrong, Mark. Windshield washer fluid is spraying onto your distributor.

Ray: You don't say, Holmes!

Tom: Elementary, tailpipe breath. There are two hoses that run to the windshield washer nozzles on top of the hood. And there's a "Y" connector under the hood where they meet. My guess is that there's a leak at that coupling -- or somewhere near it -- and it's spraying washer fluid all over the distributor or the coil wire.

Ray: It's certainly an easy theory to test. If you're either patient or cheap, wait until the next time the car stalls, then open the hood and have an assistant push the windshield washer button. You may see the stuff spraying around under the hood.

Tom: If you don't want to wait until you get stuck again, just replace those tubes and their connectors. My guess is that'll fix it. Good luck, Mark.

What is the most cost-effective way to buy a car? Tom and Ray hash it all out in their pamphlet "Should I Buy, Lease, or Steal My Next Car?" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1999 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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