[Chris]

Originally Posted by balloo93

I wouldn't silicone the dist base. If there is water getting in the best way to deal with that is a new dist cap.

Even on new ones I silicone them on just for the added protection when in the water. But yes defenitly get a new one first.

[Vampeel]

To clarify it was a puddle not a lake I drove in. I would say six inches deep and twenty feet long. I think I will start with a new cap and rotor.

[eflores]

Originally Posted by balloo93

Pop the dist cap off and spray it down with WD40. Shake it out and reinstall it.

Water + bad idle usually = water in the dist.

100% great info

[balloo93]

May also be a bad TPS, but that problem usually doesn't go away, it just gets worse.

[Thegonagle]

Alternator clutch? C'mon, this is the classic symptom of wet wires/wet distributor. Water gets near the secondary (high-voltage) wiring and shorts some/all of the spark plug electricity to ground. Result: rough running and misfiring.

Change the wires with quality replacement parts, and use silicone grease on all of the boots. Using a small amount of silicone grease (not caulk or gasket maker!) on the base of the cap isn't the worst idea I've ever heard, but don't overdo it; don't let the grease ooze into the distributor itself.

[1990JEEPXJ]

could be a bad alt. if the voltage is low enough from it getting wet, it will idle poorly. mine has done it more than once. sometimes it goes away after a minute, sometimes it toasts to alternator. when you do notice the rough idle, check your voltage gauge in your XJ. that will at least rule it out