Well-maintained if a bit shabby 1988 240 wagon. Used in subtropical Brisbane in Australia, mainly around town with the occasional long run. Mostly a trusted workhorse, but with a bloody gremlin in the ignition system:

Most of the time it starts immediately. Occasionally, it just does not - no spark. Left alone for 5-10 minutes it does start as if nothing had happened.

If it starts the first time around, it tends to run for a while. Then, after 5-10 minutes it may cough or even stall - or not. If it does, the revs needle drops to the bottom immediately even at speed with the manual gears engaged, again indicating an electrical fault. Restarting can be a bit arduous. Sometimes it starts and idles, but even thinking about the accelerator stalls it. Once it restarts, it goes all day.

Generally, it seems that once properly warmed up, it is OK. This suggests a dodgy contact or a faulty part with a dodgy contact. I have jiggled all wires between the coil and the spark plugs. The distributor is practically new and not cracked. The problem goes back a couple of years. Garage reckoned it was the idle regulator and replaced it: symptoms still continued after that but gradually died away for almost a year. Now started again with a vengeance.

At my wit's end, etc, suggestions would be welcome.

George Antony