Car: 91 940GL B230F engine LH2.4 injection & EZ116K ignition

Have been having some trouble getting the car started (cold and hot) lately so I had the battery checked out. Old one dying so I have a new one put in. Car cranks much stronger but starting problem remains. 8 times today I have operated the starter, the engine "catches" but as soon as I release the key the engine dies. One time it took 4 attempts to start the car. It finally started with a little throttle input. When it starts, the engine idles very slow, around 500 rpm or less but it is a reasonably stable idle and the lambda light in the instrument panel is on. If I put it in reverse or drive, about 1 second later the engine suddenly revs up about 300-400 rpms and the car lurches. A couple of times I have tapped the accelerator pedal only to have the car stall as soon as I let it go. I have checked all vacuum hoses (the ones to and from the idle valve are pretty hard but have no cracks in them), hose from airbox to throttle body (no cracks). There are no fault codes. Could this be a worn/malfunctioning idle valve?

What are the possibilities?
Thanks for any help.

Brad
91 940GL

Dear Brad,

May this find you well. Remove and clean the idle air control valve. Clean the end opposite the electrical connector. Use carburetor or choke cleaner. You'll flush out a lot of dirt. If that doesn't improve matters, you may need to replace this valve. I'd suggest getting one from a salvage yard (you can test it with a 12 volt portable source, and a twin-wire power lead, with alligator clips at one end). If the replacement valve solves the problem, you can either leave in place the one from the salvage yard, or buy a brand-new one.

Post the results, if replacing the IACV does not restore consistent operation.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

spook

Spook

Thanks for your reply. I also found the lead from the ignition coil to the distributor had been sitting against the exhaust manifold and the outside had melted. I'm surprised the car started at all. I will try cleaning the idle valve as see how that goes.

Brad