Car won't start after trying to wash/paint engine, I washed and painted my engine on Thrusaday and car hasn't started Options

[Will_LT]

So basically the topic title explains my issue. Last Thrusday I sprayed my engine with an engine degreaser named Engine Bright. I made sure to cover the alrternator, distributor, battery, and any other wiring i could see, with plastic bags when i did it, then afterwards i dried off the engine and sprayed painted it. I decided not to drive the car to work that day to allow the paint to dry, but the following day was unable to start the car. when i turn the key, i hear the cranking sound, but it just doesn't start. I checked the spark plugs and they were initially wet, so i dried them but nothing. I then tried buying new ones but no luck. Through advice of some people, I've also checked the air filter and nothing appears wrong there and i also removed the distibutor cap to see if any water was there, but everything appears to be ok there as well. Bascially, what I want to know is if there's any other thing i might want to check out before i tow it over to a mechanic to have it checked out. I know my initial mistake was undertaking the task of trying to clean the engine with not knowing much about it, but i thought i had done my research and now i just wish i had left it alone.

[vsideboy]

sorry buddy, the HT leads are the 4 cables that connect the distributor to the spark plugs, also what connects the coil to the centre of the distributor cap.

Like I say, remove them all and make sure they are dry at both ends (1 at a time so replacment doesn't get confusing)

your battery will be getting weaker the more time you try to start it, although it will need to drain down alot before it wouldn't jump start (well it would jump start but if your batt didn't have enough then once you disconnect the jump leads it would struggle to keep running)

when you remove the distributor cap, the rotor arm is the small piece inside than rotates and touches each of the 4 connections inside the distributor cap. Make sure the metal on the rotor arm is clean and that the 4 connections on the inside of the distributor cap are also clean. If it looks badly corroded or borken then you might need to replace the rotor arm. Not sure on celicas but they usually just pull off and are pretty cheap.

struggling to think of anything else, unless you've accidentally knocked a cable off something but can't think what.