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hi everyone-
i've got an '87 245 manual transmission with 95k on her. drove fine in heavy rain on saturday night (quarter tank of gas), go to move the car on sunday (yesterday) around noon (i'm in new york city), and it started fine and right away, just like normal, but then sputtered out after about 5 seconds of idle. never did this before! tried the ignition again, same thing... finally put gas pedal to the floor, it revved up for a second after a few seconds delay, but then sputtered and died again... almost like there was very little pressure on the gas pedal, like the engine wasn't getting enough gas... curiouser and curiouser!
so i decided to check my manuals and the brickboard to see if anyone else had this problem.
after consulting these venerable tomes of brick knowledge, i had a hunch it might have something to do with the fuel pumps, fuel pump relay, or fuel injection.
here's what happened in my research today:
1. fuses are all fine (both under the dash and the 25amp in-line fuse from battery)
2. i'm assuming that the sparks are all firing because it does turn over and idle, just not for very long. battery is good and connections clean.
3. fuel pump relay clicks when key is turned in ignition
4. main fuel pump runs (put my hand on it and can feel it vibrating while roommate cranked the ignition)
5. at a volvo mechanic friend's suggestion (he's in chicago, alas) i tried clamping off the hose coming from the front of the fuel pressure regulator in the engine. it would idle a *little* bit longer with this, but still peter out. even when revving with foot all the way down on gas pedal. also clamped off the residual fuel line (i think that's what it's called?) and that didn't have any effect on idle. car still sputtered out with some backfiring too.
6. pulled both #4 and #6 amps, individually and both at same time, didn't really make much of a difference. car still did not idle much at all, sputtered out.
7. finally, unplugged the AMM on a whim, and now the car at least idles almost like normal, but the moment i touch the gas pedal (even lightly) the car sputters and dies...
so what gives? any suggestions?? please help - i'm not sure what to try next. are there more nefarious forces at work here besides the AMM?
(speed is of the essence, as i am also running out of good graces with my roommate helping push the car because of city alternate side street parking rules) i will take it to a mechanic as a last resort - i'm starting grad school in the fall and need to save all the pennies i can.
infinite thanks in advance-
kathryn
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