'89 240 intermittent problem uk

[Keith Barrett]

Anyone help with this one.

'89 240 in the uk. This is the old non fuel injected type with manual
choke. It has 180,000 miles.

Symptons are as follows

Car starts and runs without problem. If stuck in traffic, idle speed
will gradually drop and will stall if allowed. Holding throttle
slightly open, engine is lumpy with uneven running.

When in this condition, runs fine when under load but is lumpy when
slowing down or going down hill.

This has happened several times since chrismas and it can last anything
from a few seconds to 15 minutes.

I have taken it to the dealer but, of course, it would not go wrong at
all that day.

Any ideas where I might look for this one I just do not want to do
nothing and find it stops completely in the middle of nowhere.

Thanks

 

[Guest]

Anyone help with this one.

'89 240 in the uk. This is the old non fuel injected type with manual
choke. It has 180,000 miles.

Symptons are as follows

Car starts and runs without problem. If stuck in traffic, idle speed
will gradually drop and will stall if allowed. Holding throttle
slightly open, engine is lumpy with uneven running.

When in this condition, runs fine when under load but is lumpy when
slowing down or going down hill.

This has happened several times since chrismas and it can last anything
from a few seconds to 15 minutes.

I have taken it to the dealer but, of course, it would not go wrong at
all that day.

Any ideas where I might look for this one I just do not want to do
nothing and find it stops completely in the middle of nowhere.

Please tell us whether it has the twin barrel Solex carb or the Pierburg?

If the former then you have float chamber flooding due to one of about 4
reasons, if its got the Pierburg then either float chamber flooding, or more
likely the wax stat for the hot run valve is sticking, or the needle/ jet is
worn.

Tim..

 

[Keith Barrett]

Please tell us whether it has the twin barrel Solex carb or the Pierburg?

If the former then you have float chamber flooding due to one of about 4
reasons, if its got the Pierburg then either float chamber flooding, or more
likely the wax stat for the hot run valve is sticking, or the needle/ jet is
worn.

Tim..

It has the solex carb and now you mention it, I have noticed a smell of
petrol just occasionally when the engine is turned off.

 

[Keith Barrett]

It has the solex carb and now you mention it, I have noticed a smell of
petrol just occasionally when the engine is turned off.

More vevelopements today.

Pulled in for petrol and switched off. Restarted and engine stalled
immediately. So, now I have now idle at all. In fact it is now lumpy
under about 2000 revs below this level it cuts out.

Had a manifold gasket fail about 2 years ago and it was just like this.
Dealer cannot look at it until 11th of feb.

So, if it is the manifold gasket will it stop completely or can I drive
it sparingly if I put up with the stalling?

 

[jg]

More vevelopements today.

Pulled in for petrol and switched off. Restarted and engine stalled
immediately. So, now I have now idle at all. In fact it is now lumpy
under about 2000 revs below this level it cuts out.

Had a manifold gasket fail about 2 years ago and it was just like this.
Dealer cannot look at it until 11th of feb.

So, if it is the manifold gasket will it stop completely or can I drive
it sparingly if I put up with the stalling?

I have had similar symptoms on other cars with blocked exhausts, usually
when a catalytic converter fails & the insides blow into a muffler.
Sometimes it blows a hole in the muffler which sort of masks the original
problem.