1998 V70R 225k

Okay, here's the scenario. Last night drove to the mall <5 miles, parked it. Shopping for ~45 minutes, came out and would crank but would not start. This has never happened. Tried again and again. No luck. Towed home. Today cranks up just fine.

So this morning I was all ready to start diagnosing spark and fuel. Clearly the fuel pump is okay. Did I have spark plugs soaked in gas last night and that's why I didn't have spark and they dried out overnight? Seems likely to me. But if so, then why were they wet? What else would be temperamental like this?

Thanks for any advice! I really want to recreate this issue in the driveway and fix it before this happens again. Luckily, I can drive my Jeep in the meantime.

Thanks,

Wes

A lame excuse for the car: The plugs got wet because the engine never warmed up enough to turn off the additional supply of fuel that is metered when cold. You're at 6,000 ft and the O2 is thin.
You might have a small vacuum leak causing the fuel pressure regulator to keep the pressure too high.
You might have a bum atmospheric pressure sensor. When you start the car, see if the exhaust has black smoke when you give it gas? Unplug it and clean it with alcohol.

Never should the spark plugs be wet when you pull them out, unless the car won't start.
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Keeping it running is better than buying new

Thanks! It was a fairly short trip so that makes sense. I'll follow up with those. In the meantime, I'll also bring my spark plug socket and wrench so in case this happens again. Calling for a tow sucks. And being in a parking garage makes it even worse.

Wes

Keep a folding torx tool in the center console. A spark plug wrench doesn't do much good if you can't get the cover off.

Fortunately I had my torx tool when the fuel pump stopped working. Makes it much easier to access the FP relay and insert a large paper clip.

--
Keeping it running is better than buying new