xr-lover

DAY 1

now then ive got a mk4 escort xr3i with a rs turbo engine fitted. the car has bin stood in me garage 4 about 8mth now but started up once a month. when ive gone 2 start it 2day the battery was flat so i put the leads on frm my daily car 2 the escort 2 jump it. engine turns over but just wont start.
after a couple of turns it sort of sounds as if its gona start but then doesnt (if ya know wot i mean)
i havnt checked anything 2day as gotta go 2 work but it has plenty of petrol in.
had new leads n plugs n dizzy cap bout 10mth ago.
has any of ya's got any suggestions. after the last start up its been stood just over a mth.
cud it be damp in the cap or plugs?
sum1 suggested puttin the plugs in the oven 4 a bit 2 dry out wud this help?
even tried gettin a jump off a transit van with a bigger battery but still nowt.
ideas wud be appreciated.

DAY 2

Ive taken off the battery n had it on charge for 24hrs.
took plugs out giv them a reet gud clean cos they wer filthy.
cleaned the dizzy cap out.
checked for a spark on all 4 pots and there is a spark but doesnt seem 2 be a big spark is there normally a big spark?
tried starting and its the same

Day 3
took all leads off n cap plugs out n took them into the house n im gona try n see if keeping them warm 4 a few hrs will possibly dry out any damp that mite be in them.
ill try hopefully 2morra c if that works.

any help wud be really appreciated as this is really pissin me off now.
its not the efi engine
is there any sensors that need 2 be checked n where r they?
there is petrol gettin through cos when i was checkin 4 a spark there was a strong smell of it comin frm plug holes.
also ontop of the distributor there is a black sensor with something plugged into it. its really close 2 the dizzy cap but fairly loose and its only held on by a cable tie wot is this sensor?

as ya can probably tell im not really mechanically minded but can work a bit on cars.