So yeah...only when it rains my 96 xj will take on water somewhere and it gets into the intake and starts to bog down. As you can imagine this is very annoying on the interstate. I've checked all possible areas water can get in and all vacuum lines are good. I'm completely at a loss as to what it could be. Anyone have any insight they'd be willing to lend?

 

Stock intake box, or CAI?

 

Air box stays dry. I can't think of anything else except water sitting on the crank sensor. But I'm at a loss otherwise.

 

So do you think water is getting in the intake, or in the electronics?

 

I did a complete tune up a few weeks ago and the plugs smelled of fouled fuel, like it mixed with water. I'm gonna check the electronics since that's really the only thing left. Where should I start?

 

Have you ever actually seen water in the intake though? It sounds like a sensor or wiring is getting wet and causing the issue. The airbox is pretty sealed up from water all the way to the throttle body. If it's a 96+, wait til its raining and the issue happens and try scanning it.

 

Click on the link in my signature and do Tip 3.

Complete tune up include plugs, wires, cap and rotor?

 

or next time it rains, and you notice it bogging, spray the wires with wd-40.
it that doesn't work, spray the cap/rotor next, then pick one sensor, then another and so on till you find the culprit.

use wd-40, not penetrating fluid.

you could also have a bad o2 sensor/plug/harness...