My car's been in a rapid decline. For about a week, it was running flawlessly. Then I noticed that it would lose a substantial amount of power for a few seconds if I tried to accellerate quickly. Then, yesterday, it started running really rough--it wasn't even turning enough to put vacuum into the brakes--and sputtering and bogging down and backfiring, to the point that it wouldn't accellerate at all. I'd gas it, and the engine would bog down, running horribly the entire time. It finally died--but then started again, and ran okay enough to get it home. NOW it won't even start. It STARTS to start, but won't reach idle speed, no matter how hard I press the gas. Seems like a worse version of the lack of power I experienced a week ago. It feels like it's not getting gas (there's gas in it).

But the ECU's fine. Fuses and grounds all check out. And the injectors couldn't have all gone bad or been blocked all at once...so what's wrong with my car?

Thanks, folks, for your continuing support of me and my ever-deteriorating Volvo (it's not my fault! Honestly! Unappreciative rednecks owned it before me!).

Volfro

'84 GL

Have you checked the timing belt? It could have jumped a tooth or two.

I agree with Mike O. When I changed the clutch in my 86 I knocked the accordian looking hose loose from the Air Mass Meter and the car would not start. It would turn over and hit once or twice and go back to cranking on the starter. So check this accordian type hose for leaks or disconnection. Your fuel volume is controlled by the amout of air flowing past the meter. If it is not picking up the air flow then it will not inject fuel.

Happy Brickin'

Brian 86 240GL

Have you considered the fuel pressure regulator? Pull the small vacuum line that goes from the fpr to the intake manifold and see if raw gas drips out. It's probably best to yank it where it connects to the manifold -- and if you don't see wet gas, then sniff for strong fumes. There shouldn't be any.

This is a reasonably common failure and can cause the symptoms you've described plus tons of black smoke. If it's really bad, you'll have gas in the oil, so the oil should be changed soon.
--
Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

I had a 1987 240 where the cat converter ceremic core pounded itself to the size of a (round) orange. This ball would roll around in the cat and, under hard accelleration, plug the outlet, th car would sputter and fag out.

(When it's cooled off) get under the car and hit the cat with the heel of your hand and see if there is something loose (the ceramic core) inside.

Check your Air Mass Meter.
Disconnect it and see if it runs on 'Limp Home' mode. If it does, try to swap it out for a known good one and see if that clears up the problem.

Good luck