Hi, Folks,

I parked my old 240 in the garage for a month. Today, I tried to start it but it wouldn't. The battery is good because I can turn on everything. It has half tank gas. But the engine just won't start up. When I turned the key, the car just choked there. Do you have a quick solution? I just need to start it and drive it out ASAP. Thanks for any input!

Shawn
--
90' 240 DL wagon 138k. Dreaming of a mint 940 '95 ;)

Beyond the what the other two said, if it's an automatic, don't forget about the neutral safety switch on the tranny. If the shift linkages are loose, it may not be contacting properly, thus inhibiting the starter.

Try shifting to neutral, and see if it'll start.

It's a BTDT situation ... times 4. A sliver of an old air hose, replacing the bushings, cured 'em.

-- Kane ... only one time was on my own car, though.
--
Blossom II - '91 745Ti/M46 ... Bubbles - '74 144GL/BW35 ... Buttercup - '86 245GL/AW70 ... The Wayback Machine - '64 P220/M40

Aye Roll has the good stuff.

If the car DOES have power to turn over (not "run", but to crank or turn over meaning the starter has power to spin the engine) look at the following.

One is the 25amp fuse under the hood. It's on the left quarter panel just under the hood. The 25a fuse is yellow, and it hangs on the same little bracket as the silver high beam relay hangs. Pull the fuse, put a new one in (or make SURE the contacts are clean) and then put it back in. Try again.

If that doesn't work (and remember, these things are after you checked the function or 'click' of the fuel pump relay) thereafter give every single fuse in the fusebox a visual inspection, and spin them once or twice just to get contact made.

I have personally had bizarre problems with 240 fuses causing no-start problems. The thing is, any time I had a no-start condition in a 240, it was the fusebox, and it was solved immediately with no other work than spinning the fuses, or cleaning some contacts. It's a matter of knowing what to look for.

Also, sitting for a period of time can cause that sort of thing to happen--just go through the car methodically and see what you get. Again, that's assuming that the car is turning over (i.e. cranking) but not actually starting on it's own power.
--
Chris Herbst, in Wisconsin.

It's not clear whether you mean that the car simply won't turn over, or if you mean it's turning over and not firing. If it isn't turning over steadily when you turn the key, then you have a dead battery regardless of whether everythign else comes on. The starter draws 10X the current of any other accessory.

If it turns over and won't fire, try replacing or re-soldering your fuel pump relay. It's up under the passenger side of the dashboard, against the firewall. It's white, about 1" by 2", and has a date code on it. If it says "01.06.1990" or any date older than 5 yrs ago... replace or repair it. See the FAQ for instructions on solder repair.
--
Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 86 244DL, 87 244DL, 88 744GLE, 91 244: 808K total