Cadillac Repair: 1990 Cadillac Eldorado 4.5L, valve cover gasket, cadillac eldorado


Question
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Followup To
Question -
Engine won't start - doesn't seem to be firing.  I spray-washed engine to clean for rear valve cover gasket replacement.  Engine ran rough and quit while returning home from spray wash place but started back up and I got it home. It cut off in driveway and wouldn't restart at that time.  I thought moisture had gotten in the distributor so I left it open while I replaced the valve cover gasket. The engine still won't start.  Did I damage some component with the spray wash?
Answer -
Hi Jerry, What happens alot is the water gets inside the coil part of the cap and you need to remove the coil to get all the water out. Then it should start after it is all back together. Bill
Thanks Bill, I removed the coil and cleaned and inspected the housing.  No apparent moisture present and car still doesn't start.  Do you have another suggestion?  I'm petty sure I properly reconnected all the hoses after replacing the valve cover gasket.  The car sat for a few weeks during which I disconnected the battery.  Would that have affected the computer and be causing it not to start?  Jerry

Answer
Hi Jerry, The engine still should start and run after the battery was hooked up. Although it would require driving it to relearn the idle. Make sure the wire is plugged into the battery side of the distributor cap and not the tach side. You will need to verify fuel or spark problem. Spraying a 3 second blast of carb spray into the throttlebody will substitute for lack of fuel. If it now tries to start then look to lack of fuel. If it still won't start then you will need to do the checks for no spark. It might be a bad coil due to arcing that damaged it. Hope that helps. Bill