backfire through carburetor

1986 BUICK CENTURY
150,000 MILES • 2.5L • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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CRAZY CRACKER
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Okay, first i had no fire to spark plugs so i changed the coil pack distributor cap, the rotor and the ICM. now when i try to start it and press the gas it backfires in carburetor and starts a fire. what can it be?
Oct 23, 2017 at 9:55 AM
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SATURNTECH9
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Have you checked to make sure all the spark plug wires are routed correctly? That could cause your issue if there not routed correctly.
Oct 23, 2017 at 6:39 PM
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CRAZY CRACKER
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Yes, used a diagram found on internet to connect plug wires. Could bad temperature sensors cause this problem?
Oct 23, 2017 at 6:52 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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No, a bad temperature sensor is not going to cause a back fire through the carburetor that is miss routed spark plug wires or it is out of time or the engine is really flooding out.
Oct 23, 2017 at 6:57 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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So what happened that lead up to these events before you replaced all these parts? tell me a story.
Oct 23, 2017 at 6:59 PM
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CRAZY CRACKER
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I parked it on a Monday night and then on Tuesday morning it would not start all it did was crank but not start. so i check for fuel to carburetor and i could see it spray into carburetor but not start. so i checked for fire in which there was no fire coming to plugs so i changed coil pack and still no spark. then i removed distributor cap and found rotor was melted on the side so i changed cap and rotor. That is when i tried starting it again and car started sputtering and when i press gas pedal fire shoots up from carburetor. I thought my friend had put the new ICM in, but i found the new ICM in my toolbox. Do you think the old ICM could cause this problem?
Oct 23, 2017 at 7:11 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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No, you would just have a spark issue a lack of or intermittent spark if it ran fine before. I highly suspect something is up with the spark plug wire routing. Sounds like the cap and the rotor was the original issue with the spark issues. i know you said you checked the routing and you said it was fine, but I have been told that before and it ended up being what I suggested that was already checked.
Oct 23, 2017 at 7:18 PM
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CRAZY CRACKER
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Okay, do you have correct firing order?
Oct 23, 2017 at 7:20 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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I posted the firing order and spark plug routing on the distributor cap.
Oct 23, 2017 at 7:25 PM
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CRAZY CRACKER
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So number one wire goes to the cap point front closest to drivers side and number three goes front side closest to passenger side.
Oct 23, 2017 at 7:33 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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Yeah one, three, four, two, is that what you have?
Oct 23, 2017 at 8:00 PM
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CRAZY CRACKER
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I think that is the way i have it, but it is after ten at night so i will have to double check tomorrow after work around 6:00 pm and then relay my findings to you. Thanks for all your help, tolerance and patience to a shade-tree guy.
Oct 23, 2017 at 8:05 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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You are welcome. that is what we are here for. talk to you soon.
Oct 23, 2017 at 8:19 PM
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CRAZY CRACKER
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Good afternoon, i checked the plug wires and yes they are correct. i am going to get new plugs and wires later this evening.
Oct 24, 2017 at 2:08 PM
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STRAILER
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Okay let us know what happens.
Oct 25, 2017 at 7:02 PM
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CRAZY CRACKER
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Changed plugs and wires still doing the same
Oct 26, 2017 at 8:05 PM
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STRAILER
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It sound like you may have a camshaft or valve issue. Can you do a compression test to see whats going on? Here is a guide to help you

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

Please let us know what happens so it will help others.

Cheers, Ken
Oct 27, 2017 at 11:42 AM
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