dwerksman

Used a degreaser rinsed with water to clean engine. Car will not start. It backfires through the carbureator. What do we do?

GTP Dad

Please post the year and size engine you have. This will help us to determine the type of ignition and fuel system you have.

skibum1111

Sounds like you got the distributor wet, pull the cap off dry it out also make sure the wires are dry. I'm assuming you have a distributor since you have a carbed motor. If its distributorless, make sure the coils are dry. Hope this helps.

__________________
Rusting out Honda Civic $900

Fart cannon muffler: $300

Assorted stickers advertising products you'll never own: $50

Having your @ss handed to you by a brick shaped suv: Priceless.

Yup, I own the suv.

dwerksman

Thank you! It is a 1991 Pontiac Grand Am LE, 2.5 litre engine. Any help is appreciated. Sorry I forgot to put please and thank you before!

GTP Dad

Since you have a throttle body injection and don't have a distributer there are a few things that can cause the issue you mention. First, check the coils and make sure that all connections are dry. You should pull the wires off and make sure everything is dry. Once that is done then put a little additional dielectric grease in the wire boots and reinstall. Then check the plugs for the same thing. Also it is possible that the ignition module connections are wet and need dried too. Water can cause some strange things to happen so you will need to tackle each component one at a time and then see what happens. I would start with the plug wires and coils.