First question I posted was about my 1988 240 speedometer quit after removal to bypass the "chip". Art supplied me with a website that identified looking at the L shaped plug behind the speedometer. I removed it again, and sure enough, I had squeezed the plug when reinstalling and the blue wire prongs were, of course, squeezed on the non-contact side. I separated them and it worked again. Thought it was over, but no. First speed bump and no speedo again! Pulled the speedo again and looked at the plug -- no tension. Seems like I actually cracked it at the wire. Got another from a donor, spliced it in, and all seems well again.

Second question was about a newly acquired '91 240 ... running, but no belts turning at all. Turns out it was the harmonic balancer completely separated. Inside portion of balancer was attached to crank (thank goodness it wasn't the little nib broken on crank). When I removed the belts the balancer actually fell apart. Outer portion just hit the ground! No wonder the belts weren't turning! But the crank seal is pushed in at an angle, don't have a clue how that happened. Parts are on the way!

Anyway, thanks to everyone, especially Art!

randyB

Thanks for the post back with the update.

How many miles do you have on your engine? I am at 235k on my '91 and curious of when I should start looking closely at the crank pulley.

I have three other older cars with an additional 100k miles on two of them. I have not seen the problem on those.

Maybe someone with lots of experience with them can give us timeline of about when they fail and what years are affected.

I have noted, in my mind now, that this is nowhere the first or last one.

Phil

This particular 91 has about 200k on it now. Good idea on a timeline.

My issue is I am not sure what failed first, the crank pulley or the seal. I just can't imagine why the seal failed inward. Of course the flametrap is clogged. Maybe pressure pushed the weak edge out and the more stubborn edge went in ... dunno! Just guesswork, I imagine.

Thanks for the response;

randyB