My 88 non turbo 740 GLE has a unique intermittent problem; very intermittent.

It starts great and runs fine.

Recently, and more frequently (but not always), it quits like clockwork after about 5 to 7 minutes, about 5 to 7 miles; when 1st started after sitting over night or all day while at work.

You can hardly tell that its quit; no sputtering, coughing – nothing. Like someone pulled the plug on either the fuel or ignition systems

After 5 or so minutes it starts right up! Like nothing happened. Sometimes it takes a bit longer to restart – cool down.

Once under way again it doesn’t (doesn’t) quit! And won’t do it again while its warm.

Seems the cooler the outdoor temp is the less likely it will quit?

Its not the fuel pump or radio suppression relays.

All wires and connections seem in good shape; no other problems are apparent.

Thinking the coil? Some smuck changed out the OEM coil (w/Borg) a few years ago; even though that wasn’t the problem then – had two plug wires reversed.

It quit on the way home tonight as expected (did this morning) and I got a timing light on it; no spark at plugs or from the coil, measured good voltage on the LV/DC terms of the coil.


An unrelated issue (I think) is its blowing a bit of oil out of the filler cap; thinking it must be a plugged flame trap in the CC ventilation line.


Ideas, guesses, a Fix?