The kid next door came by to ask me if I could help him with his "new" 1988 Camaro. I walked over to take a look, and he said, "I spilled oil on the spark plugs, and now it won't start. I just need to take them out and clean them." So he wanted to know if I had a ratchet extension he could borrow. At this point, I'm thinking, "Whoa, back up a second here."
I asked him what symptoms he had, and he said that the car had been running, but after he had added oil to the engine, and spilled some on the spark plugs on the driver's side, it wouldn't start. He apparently thought he had fouled the plugs with oil. I explained to him that the oil couldn't get past the spark plugs into the combustion chamber, and that he should just clean the oil off of the wires and plugs and put everything back together, and then I could get some idea of what was happening.
I helped him figure out which wires went where, since he hadn't paid attention when he removed them (fortunately he had only taken two off). The car cranked fine, but there wasn't even a hint of ignition. I said that it acted like it was out of gas. He said he was sure there was gas in it.
I said, "Look, if you have a little starting fluid, spray some in the intake. If the car starts, but doesn't run, it's a fuel problem. If not, we have to look at the electrical side." At this point, I left and went about my business, telling him that he could talk to me later if he was still having trouble.
I ran into him later, and he said that I was right, the car was out of gas, which was strange since the gauge showed about half a tank. I mentioned to him that I also have a GM vehicle with a bad gas gauge, and that he would have to fill it up based on mileage unless he got the gauge fixed.
The point is that even though I'm not an auto mechanic by trade, I know enough to start with the simple things first.
I asked him what symptoms he had, and he said that the car had been running, but after he had added oil to the engine, and spilled some on the spark plugs on the driver's side, it wouldn't start. He apparently thought he had fouled the plugs with oil. I explained to him that the oil couldn't get past the spark plugs into the combustion chamber, and that he should just clean the oil off of the wires and plugs and put everything back together, and then I could get some idea of what was happening.
I helped him figure out which wires went where, since he hadn't paid attention when he removed them (fortunately he had only taken two off). The car cranked fine, but there wasn't even a hint of ignition. I said that it acted like it was out of gas. He said he was sure there was gas in it.
I said, "Look, if you have a little starting fluid, spray some in the intake. If the car starts, but doesn't run, it's a fuel problem. If not, we have to look at the electrical side." At this point, I left and went about my business, telling him that he could talk to me later if he was still having trouble.
I ran into him later, and he said that I was right, the car was out of gas, which was strange since the gauge showed about half a tank. I mentioned to him that I also have a GM vehicle with a bad gas gauge, and that he would have to fill it up based on mileage unless he got the gauge fixed.
The point is that even though I'm not an auto mechanic by trade, I know enough to start with the simple things first.
