Well, isn't that a kick in the shorts.
While working on a friend's car, (65 VW Bus, if you're innerested), I lent him my 87 240. Till now always reliable. Drove it yesterday all day. Then we got a lot of rain. Repeat, we got a LOT of rain. 3-4 inches last day or so.

This morning he calls me up, car won't start. Hmm. Had him check things out before I went over. Cranked, had spark, T-belt ok.
All right, grabbed a few things and went for a ride. Among other things he wore the battery down cranking it, so we charged it for a while with the '86.
Didn't suspect the FPR right away- I knew it was new (1999 date code). But sure enough, can't hear the pumps run. WEll sometimes you can't anyway so cracked the fuel line at the regulator, sure enough no fuel. The relay clicked but did sound a little quiet. Did find a cracked 25A fuseholder so replaced that. No improvement.
Eventually shut down the charging operation and tried the FPR in the '86. Didn't run! Tried the 86 in the 87 and it ran for a bit then stalled out.
Hmm, when I turned over the 87's FPR to pop it open- black water poured out!!!
Apparently water found its way down the harness to the dangling relay. And went right in the case and filled it up. Contacts were burnt inside, solder joints were just fine. Coils are corroded. Got a new one- she fired right up.
Sooooo --- now I gotta track down that water leak. The car has a brand new windshield... so wish me luck.
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Rob Bareiss, New London, CT ::: 86 244DL, 87 244DL, 88 744GLE