I think I killed it... Wont Start

[jccaruso]

I hope I'm wrong but I think I may have done it this time... The short, the engine turns over and almost catches but just wont start. The long (and sorry it is long)...

I have a pretty good oil leak. My mechanic said that it was the valve cover gasket. Sounds reasonable. My car is nearing 200,000 miles on the original gasket. So I brought it in. When i got it back, i put cardboard under the car and saw it was still leaking oil. So after about a week, I went and bought some oil to refill it and saw that the mechanic didnt put my wires back under the plastic cover properly. Now I cannot stand for that so I went to rerun the wires. Pulled them off and put them back nicely. Unfortunately I didnt notice I did it wrong. Cannot tell you which wire went to which cylinder but needless to say, when my brother-in-law went to move my car and drove it about 100 feet, it was running REALLLLLLLY bad. Once I realized what had happened, I looked up the proper sequence and fixed it (1-3-4-2).

Now it cranks just fine but wont fire up. I need help on possible issues. I bought 4 new plugs, put one on the end of one of the wires and cranked the engine for a second. No spark. Should I have seen a spark??? Could it be that I fried a solenoid or a relay? All my fuses look fine.

I can also say that when i pulled the #1 plug, it was coated in fresh oil. Like it was dipped in it. See attached pic.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks


Also, if anyone has a picture of how the wires are supposed to be run, I would like to see it.

[b.u.ti-ful]

You won't see a spark unless you ground the plug to something.

All that oil might possibly only be a bad or poorly installed o-ring that goes with the valve cover gasket kit - common with these cars.

Are you sure you got the wires on right now?

[jccaruso]

I realized i didnt ground the plug so I'm going to have to do that again. I knew i was missing something... I think you are right about the o-ring part. Going to have to talk to the mechanic.

I feel that im 90% certain I have the wires on right. the number are on the wires and are in 1-2-3-4 order at the ignition coil and then 1-3-4-2 at the engine. Can i get a confirmation on that?

[jccaruso]

I was wrong, I have spark. So what now???

[dug]

Fix the oil on the spark plug problem before worrying about getting it started. The mechanic that replaced the gasket should see the oily plug and know he blew it. If not find another guy.
cheers,
dug

[jccaruso]

I told them about the oily plug. Going back to them this week. Just got to get it towed now. Any other thoughts, keepim coming. I post whatever happens.

BTW, it is possible that with the firing order crossed between cylinders 2 & 3 that i damaged the cylinder head? The car was driven that way for a short distance.

[jccaruso]

I think i figured out what is happening. I took a test light and grounded to a bolt on the front strut. I know this is a good ground because it light up when i touched the battery. When i touch the red cable that (i think) powers the fuse box, it doesnt light. Is there a main fuse that interupts the power to the fusebox? Does a computer control that? None of the fuses have power. However, when i turn the key, i can hear something buzzing and the car almost starts. Will i still get that buzzing sound and will the car easily turn over if there is no power to the fusebox? also, all the interior lights light. So strange????

[xxxJohnBoyxxx]

Sounds like the unloader relay is not working correctly. When the unloader relay is active (during starting crank over) all power should be cut to accessories and only power is supplied to essential items for starting the car. When the car starts the unloader relay drops out and power is supplied to all accessories like radio, interior lights, etc.

Just a guess over the internet.

[oldtin]

Originally Posted by jccaruso

I realized i didnt ground the plug so I'm going to have to do that again. I knew i was missing something... I think you are right about the o-ring part. Going to have to talk to the mechanic.

I feel that im 90% certain I have the wires on right. the number are on the wires and are in 1-2-3-4 order at the ignition coil and then 1-3-4-2 at the engine. Can i get a confirmation on that?

Just to be clear, 1-3-4-2 is firing order not physical numbering. #1 coil goes to #1 cyl. #2 coil to #2 cyl... both #1 cyl and #1 coil are towards the front of the car.