Hello All,

I have a 1996 850 GLT wagon with a 5 speed manual (naturally aspirated engine) and approximately 264,000 miles on the odometer. I tune the car up every 30,000 miles which includes replacing: the plugs, cap, rotor, air filter and flame trap - all with Volvo OEM parts. I also clean the throttle body. I replace the spark plug wires every 60,000 miles. Thought not related to the engine performance, I also replace the oil filter gasket and the cabin filter. I replace the gas filter per the owner's manual every 100,000 miles.

Recently one morning, as I went to start the car, the engine cranked but it would not start. I cranked the engine multiple times and it sounded as though the engine wanted to start. I confess, I did pump the gas pedal once (I know I shouldn't do that because the car has fuel injection). It still did not start. I have appropriate 24,000 miles since the last tune-up. I had the car towed to my independent Volvo garage. My mechanic pulled the plugs and found them wet with gasoline. He also checked the cap and rotor and found nothing wrong. After he cleaned and re-installed the plugs, the car started right up. He also checked the spark from the coil and it was fine. At 264,000 this is the original coil. My mechanic had no explanation as to why the car would not start or what caused the the plugs to become fouled with gasoline. I've had the car back a few days and no problems. I don't want to replace the coil unless I know for certain it is not working properly. Yet, I don't want to find myself stuck on the side of the road sometime because the car won't start.

Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions as to what caused my car not to start and resulted in the plugs get fouled with gasoline? Thanks to all who reply.

Hugh