ICT_RX8

After reading alot of threads on this site I believe I have the answer to have my 8 up and running again but I would like to positive that there is nothing else I need to do to make sure my 8 will always start for now on.

Heres the story I know its long but I would appreciate the help

It all started with my car hesitating to start and I didn't do nothing about it(big mistake). Then a few months later I flooded my engine and it sat in my garage for a few months cause I didn't know about flooding yet nor how to solve the problem. Then I found this wonderful site and became very educated about flooding. I then knew my car was flooded and i deflooded it by replacing the spark plugs BUT i had my mechanic buy and install them for me which I found out later was a mistake. My car was starting now but it hesitated 4-5seconds everytime. Then one day it wouldn't start and I tried starting it til the battery almost died and I knew for sure I didnt flood it cause the engine was warm the last time I shut it off. But to make sure I took out the plugs and noticed that the mechanic had bought 4 of the same plug(not 2 leading and 2 trailing I don't remember which one he bought). Well that scared me cause I didn't know what kind of damage it would do to my car. After waiting a few days and installing the proper plugs and recharging the battery it started but with hesitation like before. So I began driving it again without doing anything to it and sure enough it wouldn't start again so I just charged the battery and it started. I repeated this last step for a few months but didn't drive it unless I had to cause it wasn't reliable to start all the time.

NOW that I really spend some time educating myself with this site I believe I found the answer to my problem.

Replace battery with optima 35 yellow top(I have a 800 watt amp running)
Replace starter with the New upgraded verison(I believe it still has the 04' stock verison)
Replace plugs

Now should all this solve my problem? Does anybody else think there is more I need to do to make sure my car never hesitates to start again. When I did get the car to start I NEVER had any performance problems or nor did it ever die on my while I was driving it. The only problem I had was starting it. I'm mosty curious as what damage of not putting 2 leading and 2 trailing plugs could have done.

Thanks in advance for your help I would greatly appreciate it. I just want to drive my 8 again!

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

That will go a long way towards avoiding flooding from an electrical system standpoint.

Replace your coils as well, that way you'll be sure. You might also want to replace your 'plug cables since you're doing everything else.

Also volt-meter your battery terminals with the engine running to make sure your alternator is putting out ~14 volts.

[ ] Good Starter motor
[ ] Good Battery
[ ] Good Alternator
[ ] Good 'plugs
[ ] Good Coils
[ ] Good 'plug Cables

Jon316G

iTrader: (1)

Those would be my first three recommendations.
Then if you still have issues, look at the other components Huey52 mentioned above.

ICT_RX8

Thanks for your advice I really appreciate it! Do you think by putting only leading or trailing plugs would cause any harm to anything?

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

You may have built up a bit more carbon due to improper spark/combustion, but otherwise nothing too drastic. Good thing you caught it tho' as you might have reasoned you had some other performance issues.

ICT_RX8

Thanks for your replies I checked the coils and there were marks on them so I'm gonna replace those to.

This maybe a dumb question but if i was to pull the plugs and try to start the car shouldn't fuel be leaking out of all the holes where the plugs go? I did this and fuel only came out of the leading/rear plug hole. Is this normal or is there no fuel coming from the gas tank?