No fuel to spark

brettbo · Post by **brettbo** » 13 Apr 2019, 18:42

I just finished the PCV breather replacement on my car and in the process replaced the fuel injector filters and spark plugs (BoschOEM). I went to turn the car over and it was not starting. I could smell gas (quite a bit actually) but still no start. I decided to go back to the plugs I had in (NGK iridium) previously as they were still in pretty good shape. As I was pulling the new plugs, all of them had a small black coating of gas, except for cylinder 4, that spark plug was clean as a whistle. I put the NGK plugs in and the car fired up reluctantly and then began to run a little better. Now I think I am having a misfire because the idle is extremely rough. I removed the injector rail and the injector looks ok. Any other ideas?

I did an engine wash during my PCV change so I was only going to idle the car for about 10 minutes and then change the oil to get out any water that may have gotten in. (During the first 2-3 minutes I had smoke out of the exhaust which I attribute to the water in the engine, that has now stopped. Any ideas on what else could be causing no gas to get in to spark?

Post by **chrism** » 14 Apr 2019, 06:57

It sounds like you’re getting fuel flow (maybe too much?) and not not enough spark. Are the coils bolted down snuggly? I believe they need to be in order to properly ground.

Is the fuel pressure sensor plugged in?

EngineeringBloke · Post by **EngineeringBloke** » 14 Apr 2019, 08:27

Any check engine light, any codes?

Where could water have entered the engine (what was open when washing)?

Was the engine damp when starting - perhaps shorting the spark from the wires or coils?

Did you connect the wires to the right plugs? And avoid crimping the wires by keeping them close to the coils and away from the engine cover. You should not feel any resistance as you place the engine cover.

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 14 Apr 2019, 09:01

Did you get the intake manifold back on right? Did you replace the intake gasket?
That could explain the water ingress and the rough idle.

XC70Rider · Post by **XC70Rider** » 14 Apr 2019, 09:08

Sounds like the engine was gas flooded at first. Swapping the plugs might of relived the gas so it could start.
While replacing the fuel injector filters what else was serviced? When I re-installed the fuel rail with 2 broken pintle caps the idle was rough. Throwing on new caps solved the rough idle.

brettbo · Post by **brettbo** » 14 Apr 2019, 14:38

Water potentially would have gotten in the intake ports when I washed it, but I sprayed it out with an air nozzle to help remove what I could. Intake manifold gasket is brand new from the PCV kit. It seems like any moisture has burned off. I did an oil change last night to get any water in the oil out. I think I have it eliminated down to a bad coil or injector. I just put a fresh set of Bosch plugs in and the car is running well now except for a slight dip down in idling. If I hold the accelerator down it runs ok. I am going to pick up a new coil pack tomorrow and see. I am not getting any codes from my OBD scanner.

XC70Rider · Post by **XC70Rider** » 14 Apr 2019, 14:47

Did you drop and clean the throttle? The butterfly valve doesn't fully close. Stays slightly open to allow air intake when idling.

brettbo · Post by **brettbo** » 14 Apr 2019, 15:41

I cleaned the throttle body when I had the intake out.

brettbo · Post by **brettbo** » 15 Apr 2019, 16:59

Turned out to be the ignition coil on cylinder 4. She runs like a scared rabbit now.