Hard starting because of spark plugs wetting - 1997 Buick LeSabre

indicates rubber bits in the pump and float needle and seat causing flooding if the plugs are wet

i think you should do minor engine service

hmm seems like something is loose to be having a wet spark plug might wanna make sure nothing is loose there as fuel popping onto the spark plug on the spark wire could lead to a fire

Sounds like a bad distributor. Had you pulled a spark plug out you may have found them wet with gas after cranking. If they are wet the crank sensor is working since both injector pulse and coil pulse rely on crank signal.

The distributors are known week points in the ignition system and used to be common when theses cars where still on the road. A reman will run you $250 U.S.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

hot soak ,no starts 101:
which engine?, cant guess that. say it. please."name /size"
is it flooding or starving
hard to start , so that is easy you are parked, and makes diagnosis so easy, (no need to move)
you skipped the fuel filter:?
why not use a scan tool now.?
you crank for 5 seconds, see P03xx errors. DTC'
THE ECU REPORTS ALL CMP AND CKP SENSOR ERRORS!
bingo now you have your answer , finding this, scan tool free is hard hard work. am i to tell you that hard way, sure.
1:test spark on all cylinders ,same way 100 years, google it.
2: ok sparks good, i check all spark plug tips, for wet and dry or soaked in fuel.
3: i see dry, , i use test fuel (same way for 100 years,)
run on test fuel (my Model a ford, same way works.....)
4:; ah one plug is soaking , ah leaking injector
5:ah, all plugs wet, (too high fuel pressure, ECT stuck cold
if all are wet, I stop, there are lots of tests for this.(bulleted below)

• fuel pressure (KEYON, cranking and running and W.O.T.)
• injector leak down tests. all of em;'
• injector balance test (ALL)
• Fuelpump regulator 4 tests

all this perplexing, get your ASE mechanic in the loop.

Check your secondary ignition system, cap, rotor, wires. I suspect either the cap has a lot of condensation in it and is not allowing spark to the plugs or the plug wires are getting wet and leaking spark before it can get to the plugs. Should be pretty easy to check after a long hard rain or if it has been some time since you last tuneup these items along with spark plugs are most likely due for replacement anyways.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

Hello,

Pull a spark plug wire and put a screw driver in the boot and lay it next to something steel on the engine, do you have a spark?

If so pull a spark plug and see if it is wet, like water wet. Are you low on coolant or loosing it?

These engines have a intake fail issue, the upper intake will not can, but will leak, when it dose it sends coolant down the intake and wets the spark plugs. Crank the engine over a few times before doing this.


The best way to know for sure is to remove the Throttle Body and look inside the intake with a flashlight.

You may be able to get away with removing the screen from the Throttle body with snap ring pliers and opening the butterfly and looking in, but that mesh is very hard to remove and install.

Good luck

Replace the cap, rotor, spark plugs, and spark plug wires. Check to see if the air filter is getting wet. Expensive Fix- New fuel filter replacement.

it could be a lot of things.... did the car just die? was the weather wet? does it turn over fast..? is there any spark getting to the plugs? plug a spark tester into the plug wire and set it to a low gap .030" see if the arc jumps the gap. if it does pull a spark plug out and look at it. it should be golden brown with a fairly square electrode. the ground should be over top of the electrode not eroded away . can you smell fuel when u try to start the car? when u crank the car over and it doesnt start are the spark plugs wet?

replace your spark plug cables. Moisture in the air is settling on the spark plug wires which does not allow the spark to travel down to the spark plugs.
Bill