96 OB 2.5 Won't start. PLEASE HELP

[Scooby96]

I have a 96 OB 2.5 with 165,000 mi. It all started about 5 months ago when it would hard start and rough idle for a couple of minutes upon starting. It would not do this every time and sometimes it would start right up as if there was no problem at all. It did not seem to matter whether or not the engine was cold or hot, this occurred in both instances. It would run "fine" once it was in gear and no problems until I went to start it again, although I did notice I was getting worse gas mileage than before.

Changed the coolant temp sensor and the plugs which seemed to cure the problem. Couple of weeks later... same problem. Pulled the plugs again to find that they were black and soaked with gas, as they have been every time I have pulled them in the last couple of months. EGR valve has also been getting clogged up and needs cleaning about once a month.

 

Then it just stopped starting all together one day. The engine would turn over but would not fire. I checked the fuel pressure going in and coming out of the fuel filter... good. All four plugs showed spark. I did everything I knew and could not get it to crank. It sat in the driveway for about a month because I had no spare time or money to get it to someone knowledgable.

One day I went outside, put a charge on the battery, cleaned the plugs and away she went. Like a brand new car... for about a week. This has been the cycle for the last couple of months. Cranks and runs fine, then hard starts for a bit, then won't crank at all..

 

Parts recently replaced:

-PCV (8 mo ago)

-MAF sensor (4 mo ago)

-Coolant temp sensor (non-OEM, 7 mo ago)

-Fuel filter (8 mo ago)

-Plugs (Lots)

-Alternator (3 mo ago)

 

**I dont know it makes a difference but I am running the car without a thermostat**

 

Anythin thoughts will help, I need her up and running and I don't want to have to admit defeat and take her to someone that will charge me out the

a!%.

[john in KY]

Well, no thermostat means the ECU always sees a cold engine and that could explain the fuel-fouled plugs. May also want to change the oil because it has a bunch of gasoline in it by now.