Honda Car Forum

Megan wrote:
The plugs were wet with fuel, even up around the
> threads. Is this normal?

Nope, and that's most likely why it's not starting. I'd almost bet
$$$$ if you slapped a new set in, or dried those out to work, it'll
fire right up. One note though...In my experience, fouled plugs
are not worth wasting time on if they have any oil or carbon crud.
The reason being , they seem to refoul too easily. New plugs
don't foul near as easy unless you have some serious trouble,
being they are nice and clean.
I'd get new ones. And then keep an eye on them after you start
driving it again to see if they get fouled from driving, or if this
just
happened from trying to start a cold car with semi fouled plugs.
If the plugs also show a lot of oil or carbon, thats usually an
engine problem. If they are just mainly wet with a slight oil film,
you probably fouled them trying to start it, which isn't really hard
if the wx is cold, and the plugs were half fouled to begin with.
Once it's running ok, check the plugs every few weeks to see how
they look. They normally should be dry and tan looking. If they are
oily or carboned up, you need some engine work. If they are white
looking, you are running too lean. Probably not an issue here..
MK

nm5k@wt.net wrote:
>
> Megan wrote:
> The plugs were wet with fuel, even up around the
> > threads. Is this normal?
>
> Nope, and that's most likely why it's not starting. I'd almost bet
> $$$$ if you slapped a new set in, or dried those out to work, it'll
> fire right up. One note though...In my experience, fouled plugs
> are not worth wasting time on if they have any oil or carbon crud.
> The reason being , they seem to refoul too easily. New plugs
> don't foul near as easy unless you have some serious trouble,
> being they are nice and clean.
> I'd get new ones. And then keep an eye on them after you start
> driving it again to see if they get fouled from driving, or if this
> just
> happened from trying to start a cold car with semi fouled plugs.
> If the plugs also show a lot of oil or carbon, thats usually an
> engine problem. If they are just mainly wet with a slight oil film,
> you probably fouled them trying to start it, which isn't really hard
> if the wx is cold, and the plugs were half fouled to begin with.
> Once it's running ok, check the plugs every few weeks to see how
> they look. They normally should be dry and tan looking. If they are
> oily or carboned up, you need some engine work. If they are white
> looking, you are running too lean. Probably not an issue here..
> MK



Wet plugs can be cleaned with an application of carb (spray) cleaner and
letting 'em sit in the sun for a half hour or so.

JT

Grumpy AuContraire wrote:

> Wet plugs can be cleaned with an application of carb (spray) cleaner and
> letting 'em sit in the sun for a half hour or so.
>
> JT

Yea, I've done that quite a few times. It'll work to get them
started, but if they sometimes have flooding problems
or oil fouling, they will refoul real easy if it's real cold. Guess
just depends how bad they are, and how the car runs after it's
going again. Most times, if I get a set that gets so bad the car
won't even run, I'll just slap a new set in. The car will run better
with more power usually, and they aren't as easy to refoul..
I'll then clean and keep the old ones as backups..
IE: sometimes I'll yank a plug and break the insulator off..
It's handy having an extra around until you can get a new set.
If you can clean em, and the car runs right after it's going with
no flooding, or rich mixtures, oil fouling, they will usually be ok.
Once run, they kinda further clean themselves. It's more the
cars that flood easy or burn oil that I recommend new ones.
MK

We towed the car into a heated barn, took the plugs out and let it sit
overnight. This morning we tried to start it and it wouldn't go. We
pulled a plug and it was really wet again. Should I keep the car warm
and try some new plugs?

So the flooding is a secondary condition to the initial no start
problem? Ugh!

Thanks for everyone's help! I really appreciate it!

"Megan" <megansblog@gmail.com> wrote in news:1165245652.378304.99370
@n67g2000cwd.googlegroups.com:

> We towed the car into a heated barn, took the plugs out and let it sit
> overnight. This morning we tried to start it and it wouldn't go. We
> pulled a plug and it was really wet again. Should I keep the car warm
> and try some new plugs?
>
> So the flooding is a secondary condition to the initial no start
> problem? Ugh!
>
> Thanks for everyone's help! I really appreciate it!
>
>


You've got some serious problem with fuel delivery.

Are ALL the plugs wet? If so, your fuel pressure may be too high.

If only ONE or TWO plus are wet, those injectors are leaking.

--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Tegger,

The plug nearest the drive belt was wet at the threads. The next two
over were wet at the tip and then the fourth was dry.

Is there anything that we can do before we try a new set of plugs? I
hate to buy new plugs just to get them wet and ruined again.

Thanks!

"Megan" <megansblog@gmail.com> wrote in news:1165248313.601454.287340
@j44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

> Tegger,
>
> The plug nearest the drive belt was wet at the threads. The next two
> over were wet at the tip and then the fourth was dry.
>
> Is there anything that we can do before we try a new set of plugs? I
> hate to buy new plugs just to get them wet and ruined again.
>


Are you sure it's fuel on the plugs and not oil?

What color are the plugs? Can you take a close-up picture of the plugs?



--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

The plugs smelled of gas and didn't have visible oil on them. We
replaced them with new ones and got it to start (after some initial
hesitation). I let it run for a few minutes and it restarted no
problem. I filled it up with gas and a bottle of Techron as suggested
earlier.

I have pics of the plugs but am not sure how to post them here... One
plug is a different color than the other three but they were out of
order by the time I got to them. I would assume it's the first one
since that was the one that was more wet.

"Megan" <megansblog@gmail.com> wrote in news:1165262222.251907.14000@
73g2000cwn.googlegroups.com:

> The plugs smelled of gas and didn't have visible oil on them. We
> replaced them with new ones and got it to start (after some initial
> hesitation). I let it run for a few minutes and it restarted no
> problem. I filled it up with gas and a bottle of Techron as suggested
> earlier.
>
> I have pics of the plugs but am not sure how to post them here.


Email the pics to me. Don't post binaries to this group.

--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

"Megan" <megansblog@gmail.com> wrote in news:1165262222.251907.14000@
73g2000cwn.googlegroups.com:

> The plugs smelled of gas and didn't have visible oil on them. We
> replaced them with new ones and got it to start (after some initial
> hesitation). I let it run for a few minutes and it restarted no
> problem. I filled it up with gas and a bottle of Techron as suggested
> earlier.
>
> I have pics of the plugs but am not sure how to post them here... One
> plug is a different color than the other three but they were out of
> order by the time I got to them. I would assume it's the first one
> since that was the one that was more wet.
>


Your pictures are here:
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/megan_plugs/

You've got one cylinder that's a real problem. Its injector is either
leaking like crazy or the plug's not firing properly. That's the black one.

What I'm suspecting right now is a severely leaky injector. A Motorvac
service will cure that unless the injector is mechanically faulty.
www.motorvac.com
Check the site for a list of distributors in your area. The service is
close to $100, but new OEM injectors are over $250 each.

The other plugs seem OK, with obvious evidence of firing on the central
electrode. These plugs are either very new, or have covered very low
mileage.

As well, you may have some luck getting more reliable starting if you
install NGK plugs, as recommended by Honda. Some have reported better
results using NGK.

When was the last time your car was taken for a good long hard run on the
highway? Does the car sit a lot?

--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/