The message to which you are about to reply is shown first. GO TO REPLY FORM



 VIEW    REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

Hard starting, weak/no spark - resolved : loose power stage (ignition amplifier) 200 1989

A friend's 89 240 began hard starting eg. crank and crank and crank until it finally caught; then it ran rough until warmed up. I asked him to notice
- Temp related - harder to start when cold air/engine temp?
- Fuel-level related - worse when tank low? (in-tank pump hose)
- Unplug the MAS/AMM - did it start more easily?

The answer to all 3 was "yes" but they turned out to be false clues*.

After he got it to my house it would barely run; then wouldn't start at all. I suspected CPS (although new), MAS, hole in air hose after the MAS, bad intake-manifold gasket, bad fuel-filter and/or main fuel pump, power stage, coil, ...

It would fire, sometimes run a few seconds, die. Smelled gas, plugs were damp. Disconnected coil wire at distributor cap and grounded it. Faint spark once when the key was turned on and once more on the 1st engine turn; sometimes when the key was released. Pulled the battery to clean the power-stage plug contacts & noticed it was slightly loose. And had fresh grease so perhaps I'd even done the deed when I worked on it ~1 year ago.

Tightened the 2 screws, got good and consistent spark; it started right up. Could still be problems, we'll see.

--------------------------------------------------------------
*Reminding us, as psychologists finally admitted in the 1990s, that it's easy to plant false memories and associations.
--
240 drivers / parts cars - JH, Ohio






USERNAME
Use "claim to be" below if you don't want to log in.
PASSWORD
I don't have an account. Sign me up.
CLAIM TO BE
Use only if you don't want to login (post anonymously).
ENTER CAPTCHA CODE
This is required for posting anonymously.
OPTIONS notify by email
Available only to user accounts.
SUBJECT
MODEL/YEAR
MESSAGE

DICTIONARY
LABEL(S) +
IMAGE URL *
[IMAGE LIBRARY (UPLOAD/SELECT)]

* = Field is optional.

+ = Enter space delimited labels for this post. An example entry: 240 muffler


©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.