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.

[Will_LT]

For future reference you should have just taken the valve cover off if all you wanted to do is paint it... I wouldn't have painted it while it's still on the car... as you can see in that pic there is some over spray and the right corner didn't get painted.
I would have taken it off cleaned it, sanded it and then painted.

as far as the engine light i just thought maybe you were getting a code but if you cant actually start the car then idk.

Maybe look for overspray and see if it got somewhere it shouldnt be.


1. more thing- the next time you clean your bay I would cover the electrical parts in aluminum foil and then a plastic bag. Aluminum foil will mold to the shape of the parts you are covering and it wont let the water get in.

when you took the bags off of everything did you notice water in any of the bags?

also- can you take a picture of what your bay looks like now and maybe tell us what you covered? Maybe you missed something that got wet.
I'm not trying to be an ass or anything i'm just letting you know.

Sorry for taking so long to post up the pics guys, I was able to get a mechaninc to come take a look at the car and it turns out that I needed to replace the ignition coil. Got that done on Wed and couldn't have been at a better time, because my projectors came in the same day (sorry about the last part going off topic)