Here's my 28 year-old, just learned to hold a tool, non-mechanic, but Volvo for life--or at least until the last non-ford version is around--diagnosis of my stuttering engine fuel system issue.

The engine started stuttering due to a seeming intermittent lack of gas. This happened randomly for a few weeks and then got to be an everyday occurrence. So, being young and naive--and wanting to spend quality time with my "little girl" I decided I'd give her a tune-up. So, I replaced the distributor cap, wires, plugs, dis. arm, oil, and gas filter. I thought, maybe the gas filter was a little clogged.

Didn't solve my problem. Actually it made it worse. It now seems that it's about to die on me. Actually, it stalled several times. On the way home from work I smelled a very slight burning scent...but wasn't sure what it was.

After doing all my research...I think I've diagnosed the problem--with the help of a bunch of you. I think it's the fuel relay. The reason I think it has gotten worse is that the gas filter is located under the car--what a nightmare that was to install! The fuel lines enter the filter through this weird shaped ball that the bolt passes through. If you don't screw the bolt just right, it will constrict the flow of gasoline. Which is why I think my problem has gotten worse. Perhaps I did not screw it on correctly. (I made sure one was one properly, but I hadn't considered this issue until the first bolt was already firmly secured, and the hell I went through to install the thing, I just wanted to finish.) I believe this may have caused the relay to overheat even more and causing further damage and worse performance--and would explain the slight smell. (Though I sometimes wonder if I just imagine these smells.)

So, what do you think? Sound probable? Also, where is this relay located on an 86' 240 DL?

Thanks,

Ryan

Second generation Volvo Lifer!