I'm looking for some advice/help with a fuel problem with my 1988 240 DL wagon. Other than this fuel problem, she is in excellent condition and has about 150,000 miles.

When I turn the ignition, she turns over each time and runs for about one second before the engine cuts out. I'm the second owner (the original owner is a friend) of the car but I have had no problems like this in the past 18 months.

I've read information online saying that the four most common fuel problems are:

1. Blocked fuel filter
2. Faulty Fuel pump – electrical
3. Faulty Fuel pump Relay - electrical
4. Blown fuse or bad fuse contacts - electrical

So far this is what I have done to try to fix the problem on my own.

1. I checked the main fuse box for blown fuses. There were none. I then cleaned all of the contacts for the main bullet fuses. This did not fix the problem or cause any change.

2. I've replaced the relay switch that is clipped to the firewall under the glove compartment. The replaced switch was date stamped in 1987. That however did not fix the problem either.

3. I examined but did not replace the relay switch that is next to the main fuse panel. It looks much newer than the 1987 switch mentioned above and all of its soldering appears to be intact.

At this point I have exhausted what I know how to do.

I'd like to clean the fuel filter but I really don't know how to do that. What other things can I do short of taking the wagon into the shop?

I would appreciate any helpful suggestions. Thank you.

Matt