stange problem

[Mark Stonecipher]

I have a 1986 240 wagon, over 200,000 mi ,fuel injected
was running great but now has an intermittent problem I cant track down.
It doesnt seem to matter if the engine is warm or cold.
Sometimes slow starting, when it is slow to start it idles fine but stumbles
and backfires when I give it gas quickly but does OK when given the fuel
slow and easy.
other times it starts fine and I can stab the gas pedal and its fine but,
when I give some gas slowly the RPM's go up to a certain point and then it
starts stumbling again.
Other times it runs great with no problem, with it being intermittent it is
very hard to track down the problem part.
Could it be the main fuel pump?
pump relay maybe?
or maybe the pressure regulator?
I havent checked much into the fuel system yet. thought I would check with
the fine people here before I started messing with the fuel system.

thanks
Mark

 

[~^ beancounter ~^]

i would check the fule system...maybe clogged or dirty
injectors...sludge in the bottom of the gas tank...have you recentaly
almost run the tank dry?..sounds like fule not electrical to me...

 

[Gunnar Eikman]

The backfiring suggests ignition problems in my opinion. Might be worth
checking the basics like rotor, distributor cap, spark plugs. Check that
you have enough spark. Does the problem vary with weather? Hot/cold,
dry/wet?

If you have a catalyst, you have electronic injection and ignition, and
the two are interlinked. To get more more specific help, you should if
possible state what kind of engine, what country/state the car was sold
in. Not all '86 were equally equipped. In Europe there were cars with
K-jetronic mechanical fuel injection for example.


As far as I know, the fuel pump relay either works or quits (=dead
engine). I think it's safe to rule that out. That's about as far as my
limited knowledge about the fuel system goes.



--
Gunnar

240 Turbo Wagon '84 200 K Miles
940 Wagon '92 150 K Miles
on Swedish roads

 

[Peter Milnes]

Fuel pump relay gives intermittent problems at first and can be very misleading.

Cheers, Peter.

: The backfiring suggests ignition problems in my opinion. Might be worth
: checking the basics like rotor, distributor cap, spark plugs. Check that
: you have enough spark. Does the problem vary with weather? Hot/cold,
: dry/wet?
:
: If you have a catalyst, you have electronic injection and ignition, and
: the two are interlinked. To get more more specific help, you should if
: possible state what kind of engine, what country/state the car was sold
: in. Not all '86 were equally equipped. In Europe there were cars with
: K-jetronic mechanical fuel injection for example.
:
:
: As far as I know, the fuel pump relay either works or quits (=dead
: engine). I think it's safe to rule that out. That's about as far as my
: limited knowledge about the fuel system goes.
:
:
:
: --
: Gunnar
:
: 240 Turbo Wagon '84 200 K Miles
: 940 Wagon '92 150 K Miles
: on Swedish roads
:

 

[Mark Stonecipher]

it was the fuel pressure regulator, also right after i fixed that, the
ignition coil gave up and had to replace it too.
thanks for all the advice and ideas for what to look for.