My grandson has been driving a 1977 240 back and forth to school for three years. He has come up with a problem I would like to check with you guys.

These questions may seem dumb to you 240 guys but consider that they are coming from a PV444 restorer who thinks fuel injection may have something to do with needles. The car is at a town too far away for me to get at in person, which is probably a good thing.

It ran well the night before. He started it the next day and it would not idle. Seemed to run OK, but would not idle. After checking the plugs and compression, he looked around, found a vacuum line to distributor that looked worn and loose. Got his dad to help hold it tight and it seemed to do better. He replaced that line. Then it would not idle but also just barely ran when above idle.

They had it towed to a one man shop (described as an eccentric old Volvo specialist). After having it for a week the mechanic has now trouble shot it and reports the following:

1. Someone has bypassed the fuel accumulator back by the fuel tank. He does not know about accumulators on this car but the last one he did was on a Mercedes and cost over $1,000. The grandson does not like the sound of that.

2. He thinks the idle problem may be the "idle air valve". He had a used one from a newer car on hand, put it on and it would then idle. But he says it would idle but still ran very poorly. He says he can get the correct part for $232. He is proposing to go ahead, do that, and see how it is then.

The grandson is asking my for my opinion. My thoughts are:

1. I question that the accumulator being bypassed is a factor since the car was running OK as it was. I see that FCP Groton has new accumulators for $75 or so. Also I see in the archives here that there were recalls in that area back in 1977. Could it run OK with the accumulator bypassed? Should he have the mechanic address that?

2. As far as the idle air valve goes, I see FCP Groton has an "idle control valve" for $280. Do you think that would be the part? I am inclined to tell him to have the mechanic go ahead as he proposes.

This is all frustrating for me. I have a 740 turbo for which I have never had a reason to look at the fuel injection system. But the manual makes it look like a fairly straight forward trouble shooting process - check some pressures, electrical readings, etc.

I figure I'm gonna tell him to go ahead, but thought I would check with you guys to see if the scenario rings a bell with anyone. Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks,

Keith W.

PV444 Project (now driving), Moline, IL





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