What did I do to my car? Help!

[HuntingtonSpider]

Last night after an especially long night at work I started my car and turned on my headlights. My drivers side was flickering on and off as it sometimes does, so I reached under to the fuse box and jiggled the fuse, which usually corrects the problem but this time resulted in a flurry of sparks and a scary flame shooting out of the fuse box. None of the fuses seemed blown but I replaced them one by one. Now the car won't turn over. When I turn the key the car turns but won't start. So no spark? When turning the key the car seems to want to slowly accelerate without even pressing the gas. The longer I turn the key the harder it tries to start, however; even when starting in first gear the car won't lurch forward until I let off the clutch. It then immediately dies. After a while of trying it smelled a bit like gas so I let off. I guess that means the fuel pump is working, or trying to? Any thoughts or ideas?

[hamlet]

Have you tried popping the clutch?

[wizard124]

If you saw flames, then it is very likely that you burned some wire insulation. Get out your wire diagrams, multi-meter, flashlight and inspect the wires, connectors etc. Have you read the voltage at the battery?

I wouldn't risk further damage by simply trying to start and run it after the experience you described. A thorough fault finding and repair needs to be accomplished.

[vandor]

Do you have spark? Does the coil positive terminal have 12 volts with the key on?

Regardless, I would look around the fusebox area and look for burned things to try to determine what touched what to cause the sparks. Maybe you pushed the fusebox up and the wires bedind it touched the body?

[majicwrench]

YOur post is quite confusing to an old guy like me.
"car wont turn over" followed in next sentence by " when I turn the key the car turns but wont start" followed a few sentences later by "when starting in first gear the car wont lurch forward till I let off the clutch. It then dies."
So does engine crank when you turn the key, that is considered "turning over"
Does engine actaully run on its own?? From your post, it must or it wouldnt ever "die"
Flames at fusebox certianly need to be looked at. Look for visable damage, melted wires etc.
' Fuses, as you are aware, often make poor contact, clean fuse holder with dremel and wire wheel.
Keith

[HuntingtonSpider]

Sorry if my post is a little confusing, I'm really bad at car talk . What I meant by turning is that it's cranking but won't start. I assume that means no spark. Their are no visible burnt wires or anything underneath. Since the sparks lasted only a second and seemed to shoot out of the front of the fuse box ( though from my angle in the car more could have been going on underneath the dash) I am hoping that no wires got torched. I am more confused because none of the fuses even popped. I tried popping the clutch but since I was alone I don't think I could get enough speed. I will try again with some help later today. I'm busting out the manuals to check some wiring diagrams but that stuff might as well be Latin to me. Wish me luck.

[majicwrench]

No point trying to push start it if starter cranks fine. Save your energy.
Do visual inspect under dash for melted wiring.
Did car crank/start/run before you changed fuses?? Or did it die after the sparking/fire incident?
Do you have a test light or a volt meter?? With key on check for 12volt at coil pos (+) terminal, or pull a plug wire, insert junk plug into wire, lay on engine, have someone crank engine and see if spark.
Keith