Ok...I am in desperate need of troubleshooting wisdom on son's '86 244/230F/LH2.2 of which I have posted about here in the recent past. It has a bad stumble accelerating from a stop and will sometimes die pulling away. Accelerating slowly it is less pronounced. Accelerating more rapidly, the car will surge...surge...surge....surge as it tries to gain speed.

As of today I have replaced the following:
1)main fuel pump (new)
2)main fuel filter (new)
3)engine wiring harness (used)
4)plugs, cap, wires, rotor (new)
5)Ignition wiring harness inspected (looked OK)
6)Fuel pressure regulator (new)
7)ECU replaced(used/this corrected an idle-control problem)
8) Main fuel pump relay (resoldered)

I can hear the intank pump runnning normally. I have a new intank pump and sock which I have not installed yet. Not sure if this is likely candidate but will probably install these next. Funny thing is that when the main filter was replaced last week, the car ran great for about 5 miles but problem then returned. I thought that this might point to main pump, intank pump, sock problems, but main pump replacement made no change.

The engine idles well, but high. I have the base idle set at 740 rpm, but the CIS keeps the idle high at around 950 rpm which is a puzzle. The engine revs freely in park or neutral, only stalling under load while driving.

I checked the AMM with a dwell meter per the Bentley procedure and needed to turn the adjust screw down (plug had already been removed) about 1 1/2 turns to get something like the 20 - 70 dwell reading specified in this procedure. As I mentioned the idle is high, and so I am not sure if this reading is accurate, but it does seem to indicate the the AMM is doing something and is not dead.

I am still not certain if the source of this problem is ignition or fuel. Any suggestions for troubleshooting would be greatly appreciated. I am scratching my head, but will be pounding it against the pavement pretty soon. Please help me save my sanity..........

Regards,

Cliff

PROBLEM FINALLY SOLVED!!!!!!!

While replacing the intank fuel pump today I discovered that someone had fitted a short piece of fuel hose between the metal pipe and intank pump and that this had become badly kinked&bent and was restricting the fuel supply. I had ordered the correct replacement accordion hose and when this was fitted the car runs GREAT!

What a major relief. Thanks to all for all the help.

Cliff

p.s...also did the circuit board jumper and now the temp gauge works as well. it was a good day.

I suggest you look closer at the AMM - it has multiple functions and CAN partially work in certain conditions (i.e temp etc..)
Also clean its contacts. Did you remove it when installing the air filter as described? Try replacing it with another used one, the 007 (last three digits) in that car (I think) is easy to find and cheap at junkers - or borrow one from another car. Make sure the ECU IS THE CORRECT ECU.

How about the temp sensor in the side of the head under the intake? and its contact?

Good luck.

Greg

get an AMM from the junk yard off a car that got hit or had tranny problems or something other than engine problems... look for one with an 007 number on it (you can see that on yours printed in the black rubber)... they are also on 740's of those ages so don't limit your search to 200 series vehicles.

swap it in and see if it works better... hopefully the yard won't charge you much for it since you will be using it for testing.

I've found a few of these in the yards and I always keep a spare on hand in order to eliminate that as a possibility in situations like yours.

it's not a guarantee but it might work and then you can relax and enjoy the car a bit!

jack

--
'86 245, 266,000 mi., '87 760T 140,000 mi. - Columbus, Ohio

My suspicion is it's probably the AMM; however, I would check for vacuum leaks in the Heat/Vent/AC control lines - and also do the &^&$#%$ flame trap.

My money is on the Air Meter. My 85 had a similiar problem, it was the meter.

had similar problem w/"79 244,but mainly during lower temps, it was rectified w/ replacement of air filter, my mechanic spotted it, the filter was dirty and he replaced it, no prob since. good luck, don't give up!
--
western duds, boots, paperbacks,artifacts,poetry

Wow, you have covered the bases. As someone else mentioned, you might check the injector seals, and I would add clean the throttle body. Also, I assume you have checked for vacuum leaks, and perhaps a leak in the large intake piece that the AMM fits into (look on the engine side of the AMM). Sometimes a hole will rub through in that and cause all kinds of issues. Also, how long has this been going on? Is it possible you got a load of bad gas? That is probably too obvious, with all you have done, but just in case, run the gas out as much as you can. Then fill up with fresh 89 octane and add a can of Techron. Can't hurt. Please post later and tell us what you eventually find.

Have you checked the injectors / injector seals ?

If this posted with a blank thread... sorry.
--
84, 242GLTi, 167K, 4+OD, in rehab; 89, 245 DL, 252K, M 47, daily driver; 93, 245, auto, 167K ; and other toys.

The first thing we did was to clean the throttle-body and replace plugs, wires, cap, rotor. I did suspect a vacuum leak... and the big accordion hose between AMM and TB was worn FULL of holes on back side and this has been replaced with a sound item from junkyard. I have checked all other hoses and could not find more leaks.

I did the "carb spray at the injector seals" while idleing and did not notice any change. I have a set of injector seals from IPD and these are probably worth putting in as "one more thing" to try.

We have put quite a few tanks of gas through her by now including one with a bottle of Techon. The problem is also the same at full and below half-tank level.

We have had this car about two months and it had this drivability problem when we brought it home. With several of the maintenance/repair items it runs a bit better...but this one severe problem persists.

Cliff