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1991 Oldsmobile Ciera Cutlass wont start

Tiny
MAICE
  • MEMBER
  • 1991 OLDSMOBILE CIERA
  • V6
  • 240,000 MILES
After driving through a puddle my car wont start and is making a popping noise. It has been in the garage but it is very cold here and I was thinking maybe something froze on it. I havent really done much since I dont know exactly what to try but I have put it on the battery charger and had a heater in the garage trying to warm it some in case something was frozen in hopes whatever it was would thaw out. Any suggestions?
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Monday, December 9th, 2013 AT 3:31 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
LET'S TAKE OFF THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP

LEAVE THE WIRES ATTACHED TO IT

WIPE OUT THE INSIDE/ OR SOAK IT DOWN WITH SOME WD-40 (INSIDE THE CAP ONLY)

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET THE MOISTURE OUT OF IT

THEN REPLACE THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND GIVE IT A WHIRL

RETURN HERE WITH A BIG OLE GRIN!

THE MEDIC
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Monday, December 9th, 2013 AT 4:23 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
Where is the popping coming from? Is it a back fire? Did the car stall when you hit the puddle or did it run okay and then just not start back up?
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Monday, December 9th, 2013 AT 4:57 PM
Tiny
MAICE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The popping sounds similar to a backfire and no the car didnt stall after running through the puddle. I actually came home, went out again and parked in the garage where the car was left for 2 days due to ice and snow. It hasnt started since. I will try the WD trick and let you know, Thanks
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Monday, December 9th, 2013 AT 5:51 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
Before you do that, check to see if there is spark and fuel to the engine. Make sure the fuel pressure is within the manufacturer's specs. NOTE: If you want to make it easy, see if the engine will start with starting fluid. If it does, then the problem is fuel related. If it doesn't start with starting fluid, then chances are the problem is spark/ignition related.

Let me know what you find.
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Tuesday, December 10th, 2013 AT 5:26 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
DON'T YOU RECKON IT'D BE EZer/ EZist TO POP THE CAP. CHECK FOR MOISTURE. GET RID OF ANY. REPLACE THE CAP AND THEN GIVE 'ER A WHIRL. THEN GET MORE THOROUGH. SHOULD CJ MEDEVAC BE WRONG!

AFTER ALL, WE JUST DROVE THRU A POND PRIOR TO THE ISSUE A-HAPPENIN' !

THE MEDIC
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Tuesday, December 10th, 2013 AT 3:32 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
It wouldn't hurt, but since it ran after this happened, I question if that happened.
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Wednesday, December 11th, 2013 AT 5:43 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,004 POSTS
. INQUIRING MINDS REALLY WANNA KNOW. THE REST OF THE STORY!

THE MEDIC
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Friday, December 20th, 2013 AT 9:27 PM

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