Ok, if any of you can figure this out you should win a prize. There are many other people in this forum who, in the past few days, have complained of similar problems with their older 240s. But no one has seemed to pinpoint a solution. I have a '82 240 w/265,000 miles. Since 1995 this car has had the same problem, that no mechanic has been able to fix.

Here are the symptoms:
Every now and then the car will suddenly lose power while gently accelerating, for a period of 1 to 4 seconds. It will suddenly regain power (causing the whole car to shudder and jerk) and then sometimes it will lose power again for another 1 to 4 seconds (with another shudder and jerk). If I am going below 25 mph the car sometimes (but not always) stalls. As you can imagine this makes driving in traffic a bit interesting since it often likes to do this in rush hour traffic.

The problem won't exist for a month, but then it will appear, and crescendo, with episodes getting progressively worse and more frequent until I have to take it into the shop.

So far every mechanic I have taken it to has been unable to replicate the problem (it only seems to do it to me) or if it has acted up while the mechanic has it, they conclude that the fuel pump relay needs to be replaced. They find no problems with the fuel pumps. In the past three years I've had at least three fuel pump relays put in, as well as an new distributor cap etc, and new ignition pin updates. Each time they put in the new relay, the car works fine for about a month and then the problem starts up again.

I thought it was humidity causing corrosion and a short in the relay, but now I live in arid Denver. Not much humidity here--and its garaged.

Can anyone help this novice?

Thanks,

gregclouser@hotmail.com

it could be many things but I've just changed my timing belt and I have noticed a substantial improvement in lower rev power ( i can now get out of my driveway without a running start) They are inexpensice ($15 in australia (US$8)) and it takes only a couple of hours. Cooling fan off(not water pump), two screws to remove the large plasctic radiator cowling, remove crankshaft pulley, by removing only the 'small' nuts, not the large centre one (unless your modle dosen't come off without the large nut being removed), careful with the order the pully parts and shims come off in unscrew timing belt plastic cover, check belt and if the tensioner has any pressure left in it.If the belt has over 20,000 or otherwise looks suspect change it, carefull note markings on the old belt, and/or make your own mark on it. New belt should have markings on it.

Have you replaced the engine wiring harness? If it has never been done, I can tell you with almost absolute certainty that it needs to be replaced.

Kevin

I just finished changing my wiring harness last night (bought it from Dave Barton, who includes great instructions). Anyways, I was looking forward to solving my cars' (83 Turbo) tendancy to stall for no apparent reason. Well, the car started right up, and after a few minutes, died. Oh well, at least I know its not the harness or fuel pump relay (I've tried several different new ones).
Good luck on getting your car fixed, I've been having similar problems for months now.

-Bruce