Monthly Archives: March 2026

Why Does My Car Run Rough in the Rain or After a Car Wash?

Why Does My Car Run Rough in the Rain or After a Car Wash?

Why Does My Car Run Rough in the Rain or After a Car Wash? There is a unique anxiety that comes with driving through a sudden O'Fallon downpour only to have your trusty vehicle start shaking, stuttering, or losing power. You press the gas, and instead of the usual smooth purr, you get a coughing fit that makes you wonder if you will make it home. Maybe you just rolled out of the car wash, proud of your gleaming paint, only to have your engine run rougher than a gravel road. If this has happened to you, do not panic. You are not imagining things, and your car is not haunted. It is a classic case of water interfering with the delicate dance of electricity under your hood. At Hillside Auto Repair in O'Fallon, we see this spike in business every time it rains. Here is the science behind the shudder, and why you need a trusted mechanic to solve it. The Great Escape: Spark Plug Wire Arcing Think of your spark plug wires as tiny, high-volt ... read more