OK, I checked all plug wires, and found one that was loose due to improper installation. Started the car, took three cranks to get it started, but it ran like a champ on all cylinders once it got running, and I took it for a spin, ran beautifully with no hesitation, or engine vibration the entire time I drove it. I then parked it in the driveway to wash it, washed it, and went to move it back into it's home. I crank it, nothing. Crank it again, putputs twice then dies. Crank it again, struggles to life but runs. rev it a bit to see if I can stabilize it, sort of levels out to a somewhat even idle, put it into reverse, and step on the gas to back up, car jerks backward gently a couple times and dies. Crank it again, won't start. Crank it again, and it starts in the same manner as before, sort of struggling to life. I then put it in reverse, holding the engine at 1000-1200RPM with my foot on the brake, and back up and manage to park, with the engine continually trying to die on me when the car is in gear. I park it, leave the engine running, and smell the tailpipe. Mixture doesn't smell rich, as it did earlier with loose plug wire, and car seems to idle fine, with some minor shakes of the engine now and then, which I did not notice before I washed the car, but were noticable now.

oh, and it was parked for about an hour when I washed it, and the engine was pretty cool for the restart.

No water appears to have got under the bonnet.

my car is beginning to annoy me, any suggestions?

CCC