96 Tracker's distributor getting wet

[gorkyb]

Hello! so a whiiiile ago, under another thread we were discussing the distributor on my Tracker POSSIBLY getting wet. fixkick told me to check if I had the rubber gasket on the edge of the sheet metal where the hood sits on (by the firewall). I have it and it seems to be in functional shape. Then fixkick said something about water draining passages at the bottom of the windshield getting clogged and possibly redirecting water into the engine bay.

Sorry, it's been a while since we discussed this. Can you please refresh my memory and write it out in detail on what I should look for?

My Tracker is still not running yet due to the other work I'm doing but this is a symptom I had before the car went out of service, so I want to be prepared if the symptom comes back again after I get the car running. The symptom being misfire and hard starts during rain or after washing the car.

[fixkick]

no problem, mine was packed in with pine needles. solid.
bad spark wires are top reason , get some BOSCH mag wires. or NGK for more $. they really work great.

just below the windshield is the vents, to the cowl box. (wipers down there) and at each end of this hidden box, are 2 drains that are hidded the top rear of fenders.
if they clog water goes to bad places, even to distributor or to passengers feet.
some fire wall gaskets can be bad , making all this worse.