I have a 1986 240DL. The car has been stuttering along, and it has gotten progressively worse. It is most certainly a fuel related issue. I have been told it might be the fuel pump, but the mechanic--who wants me to bring it in to take a look--says that fuel pumps usually work or do not work--they rarely just die-out. So, what are your thoughts? I'd rather fix this issue myself and save $200. I performed a tune-up on it and replaced the gas filter--this did not help.

Any guidance would be appreciated. Also, if it's the fuel pump, the local auto parts store has one for $120.--$100. cheaper than the volvo shop. Thoughts?

Thanks,

Ryan

Don't do the local auto parts place. I tried it and after cutting the wires to add there ridiculous ring lug assembly and returned two pumps because they sqealed and made the engine's idle all over the place , I spent the bucks and put it all back together, It's happy now.

Ryan,

Don's suggestion would be my first thought. Next might be the fuel injection (or fuel pump) relay. It can cause stuttering, because the fuel flow shuts off and comes back on, but this is generally an intermittant, not a full time problem. The relay can also cause a no-start or a stall and a no re-start.

"Next might be the fuel injection (or fuel pump) relay..."

Yeah, I agree. Gee, I wonder how I failed to give my standard lecture on resoldering relays, resoldering relays, resoldering relays? Must be New Year Magic! (And I sure as hell didn't make any resolutions.....)

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

on a similiar note, thanks for the constant lectures on fuel relays. 3 am this morning, my car was getting plenty of battery, but failed to start. Sure enough...bum relay and quick fix after some sleep. Seems kind of strange to have the first thing checked be the actual problem. thanks again.

"Gee, I wonder how I failed to give my standard lecture on resoldering relays, resoldering relays, resoldering relays?"

I wondered that too. I've got a bad relay that was killed due to a water leak through the firewall. Do you think it could be made usable by resoldering, or would the water due damage that can't easily be repaired? About half of the circuit card shows corrosion and or slight rusting.

thanks.

"...that was killed due to a water leak through the firewall..."

Sure. It's happened to me several times, usually with the intermittent wiper relay.

Wash out the relay, particularly the green grungy stuff. And then rinse, rinse, rinse. Rinse once more.

Then dry, dry, dry. And dry some more.

Then resolder.

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Hey

my 89ti was doing sorta the same stuff, where's that fuel relay at might as well try that route.

Gene,

Your fuel pump relay is in the tray of relays behind the ashtray. It is the one on the far left hand side of the second row back.

Remove ashtray and then the receptical it sits in. Then remove lighter surround trim. This reveals two screws which you remove and then remove the plastic "box" to give you access to the relay tray. Why not resolder the overdrive relay while you are at it- it is in the same row on the far right hand side.

Randy

Check this link out I just found:

http://www.swedishbricks.net/TechTips/fuelpumprelay.html

Hope it helps. I'm going to check mine.

Thanks.

Ryan --

One possibility is that the small Neoprene hose in the fuel tank has disintegrated. This allows the main pump to "suck air" along with the gas, sending foam to the injectors, resulting in stumbling and bucking.

The big clue is that the symptom diminishes (or disappears) when you fill the tank, but it returns when the level drops to about 1/2.

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

transfer pump?