Well, thanks to all those that responded to my "Trouble...help me troubleshoot" post from several days ago.

Here's why I'm posting again...
The dang thing started today without hesitation but I haven't done anything to it. The troubleshooting was performed that night and I haven't had the time to work on the car since. Thinking there was some far chance that what I had done that night may have fixed it but it was flooded (or something), I tried firing it up the following afternoon and it didn't start.

I bought a fuel filter that I was going to intall today after blowing 2 ft of snow out of the drive. Just out of curiosity after parking the blower I tried starting it and it fired right up.

So, I'm thinking the fuel filter is not an issue and I'm at something of a loss as to why the car would start today unless there is a water intrusion point that dried out since Monday. It has the original 1985 harness and all but I was getting spark and all that jazz.

What else comes to mind folks?

Thanks and happy new year!

Ron
Wasatch Mountain Range


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Here's how the car died and what I had checked for those that didn't read the first post....

Several days of big snow and wet slushy roads. Today, ten minutes into my morning drive, my 85 244 starts sputtering on acceleration but I make it to work thinking that I just need to refill the mostly empty tank and add a bottle of Heet(removes water from fuel sys. and keeps lines from freezing). This had no effect though since 25 miles after doing so the car sputtered to a halt and died.(almost like it was being flooded, the timing was off or only firing on a couple of cylinders) It hasn't started since.

Seems like logic would dictate that this is either a water intrusion or fuel starvation problem.

Here's what I've done so far...


Checked fuel pumps fuses...good

Jumpered fuses 4 & 6 to confirm both being actuated. Pumps running but no start

Spark from the coil...yes

Spark from the distributor...yes, checked at the first spark plug

Disconnected the air mass meter to rule out mixture issues...still won't start

At request of my mechanic (60 miles away) I Pulled the hose off the fuel press regulator to confirm there was no gas in that hose... there wasn't and mech says that's good...can the regulator still be faulty and causing my trouble?

Checked 25amp fuse in engine bay. Cleaned holder, replaced fuse...no start

Connected test light to first fuel injector, confirming that power is making it to the fuel rail.

Newer battery and it cranks strong and fast...not for long at this rate though.

I'm hanging my hopes on the fuel filter. It'll take me a few days to get to it though.

Given the symptoms of the car sputtering to a terminal halt, what gives???

Thanks,

Ron
Wasatch Mountain Range
Over 3' of snow in the yard with 3 days of storms coming