Gosh, I've been here before!

BRIEF HISTORY

I drive a '86 240 with 200,000 miles. The car was well-maintained before getting into my hands; I've owned it for two years. She's from california.

Soon after I bought the car, she began having drivability problems. Their seemed to be a fuel-mixture problem. I thought it was one of the fuel pumps, so, being dumb and young, I attempted to replace them myself. Sadly, that didn't solve the problem. I then started replacing relays and messing around with the Lambda Sond--I cannot imagine why I tried taking out the Lambda Sond--but think I might have. (I think I noticed the wires were a bit frayed? And maybe I tried to splice them, or wrap electrical tape around it--more likely the latter.) But, in doing this, I need to have the entire electrical harness replaced. I also had to have the Air Mass Meter replaced--which I think my mechanic determed was the drivability problem.

(For what it's worth, I can see that the Lambda Sond cover has a slight crack on it; it's been like that for as long as I can remember.)

Three months ago the drivability problems returned--car would radomly sputter under load. One day while driving the engine just died--no sputter, the engine just cut off. I had my car towed to a cheap mechanic--not my usual volvo guru--and he replaced both fuel pumps. That got the car running again.

Soon thereafter the fuel-mixture issue (?) returned. ..car would give underload. But then I would restart and it would drive normally.

...winter ended and so too the problem.

...'till today.

I was driving to work. Everything was fine 'till the highway. As soon as I got onto the highway, she died--giving no indication that she was unhealthy. I tried restarting. Nothing. She turned over fine, but acted like she was out of gas. (Gas gauge indicated a few gallons.) But, assuming maybe the gauge was broken I got some more gas--about four gallons--and she started right up. ...thought the problem was solved...but one mile later she died again. This time though she started right back up...and I drove to work fine.

For what it's worth, when I got to work I noticed there was no coolant. Last oil change I mentioned to my mechanic that I thought she might be going through coolant faster than usual. Seems I was right.

I don't know what to do, but I can't keep buying new AMM, Fuel Pumps, and Wiring Harnesses. ...maybe their not related, but I'd like to solve this problem.

Thanks SO MUCH in advance!
Ryan
Second Generation Volvo Owner