Cranking car with plugs out

[markbigears]

Had a problem with car not starting, possible oiled up plug. Anyway, last time this happened, my audi technician said before he replaced with new plugs, cranked the engine over with the plugs out. Today, had the same problem after 6 months, so I replaced the plugs and nothing. Still not starting. Then I removed the plugs and cranked it a few times, replaced plugs and it fired on 3rd attempt. Now starts first time. Looked online but can't find why cranking the engine with plugs out would get the car started? Also just read that I could damage the ignition system if I crank it without plugs, what is the correct method to do this? Kind regards, Mark

[markbigears]

Many thanks for the lengthy reply Locknut. I'm still none the wiser why my audi technician suggested it and it worked for him and today worked for me? Would it reset a sensor?

[markbigears]

Many thanks all

[markbigears]

If only I understood that Dave! It's an audi A2, so remove lead "to" the coil or after it? Christ, don't even know where to look or what the coil looks like on this thing and renove injectors? If only it was as easy as working on my old skool TVR, i know the coil is the cylinder thing, has a distributor cap and rotor arm .......