Please I need help very badly!!! I can't afford to take my 240 to a qualified mechanic so I'll attempt this myself and with your help I hope. It will start up but shut off immediately. I try to pump the gas but will only sputter and stay on until I release it. I checked gas pressure from the fuel pump, it's ok. I replaced the coil, ballast resistor, and wire from coil to dist. cap. This had no effect on condition. My diesel mechanic friend says it's an electrical ignition problem. I would appreciate any help with this problem. Thanks

I agree with Aye,

test the AMM with his technique, mine did the same thing... I could keep it going with the gas pedal for a little while but as soon as I let off the pedal it would die.

replaced the AMM with my spare (always handy for testing) and it ran fine.

good luck

p.s. - he's also right about the junk yard I've gotten parts from there that I saw sell on ebay for 3 times as much, don't know if Naples Fl. is a haven for junkyards so you may have to do some travelling but it would probably be worth it if you don't have the scratch to pay the pro.
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jack, Bad Blue, '86 245, 245,000 mi.

Assuming that the plugs look ok (change them if you're not sure) and the cap + rotor are good, then try just disconnecting the AMM (air mass meter) on the left front inner fender.
If it runs then (at least idles) then it's probably going bad. Lots of trouble with those on 83-84 cars. Try to find a used one- maybe $40-50 in a junkyard. Less if they don't know how bad you need it!
Also, just make sure you don't have any big vacuum leaks anywhere- intake manifold, vacuum hoses, big air hose from AMM, etc.

Did you actually test the fuel pressure or just verify presence of fuel?
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 86 244DL, 87 244DL, 88 744GLE, 91 244: 808K total