I have a 1985 244DL. On a rainy afternoon a couple of weeks ago it refused to start after work. It would crank and sounded like it wanted to start, however, it just wouldn't fire up. I figured it might be a moisture problem and decided to see what would happen the next day.
The weather cleared up over night but it still wouldn't start in the morning. By noon, it started fine and ran normally.
A day or two later I was driving on the highway and it just quit. I pulled over and tried to start it and again it cranked but would fire up. I checked the plug wires at the distributor and the ignition coil to see if all were tight and then tried starting. It started and ran normally.
A few days later it was running funny and wouldn't start after turning it off. It did start again a few hours later.
I have checked all the fuses I can find. After getting coated in 20 year of grime that was stacked all over the engine, I washed the engine. (creating more problems? - possibly) I have replaced the distributor cap, plugs and the ignition coil. Didn't help.
I suspected fuel pump relay. Both the main fuel pump and the in-tank pump turn on when connecting jumper wires so I know they work. I checked power to the in-tank pump at the connection close to the pump and it gets power when starting the engine. I can also hear the main pump run. So, I assume it is not the relay or pumps.
The car now starts but runs very rough. The whole engine rocks.
I don't know where to look and I am not a mechanic. I still don't know if the problem is fuel related or electrical.
Does anybody have any ideas before I give up and find a repair shop.?