'83 244DL Randomly won't start.

kenwood · Post by **kenwood** » 09 Jul 2013, 10:14

Totally frustrating. Drove to the corner store & had to have it towed home. This is the second time it's happened this week. When it starts it runs great. I've unplugged and cleaned all of the connectors under the hood. Battery is strong. Nice hot spark to the plugs. I hear a firm click when I turn on the ignition and the starter spins the motor easily, just no ignition at all. First time the engine was cold, the second time it was warmed up.

Any help at all would be appreciated. Thanks.

Post by **jimmy57** » 09 Jul 2013, 11:11

When it will not start and has no ignition I assume you mean no spark then?
The reason I ask is that that ignition system is notorious for connection problems at the ignition module behind RH head lamp. The male pins that stick up from board that go into connector can crack their solder on circuit board and the females in plug can get corrosion and lose connection with pins.
If you have someone crank it and you push the harness connector into ignion module and it starts you have your answer. You may also get it to go dead by gently pushing the connector left-right and up-down. The Fuses in the fusebox inside driver's door are problematic too. they can get corroded on ends or have hairline fatigue cracks that open the circuit at odd times.

kenwood · Post by **kenwood** » 09 Jul 2013, 17:22

Thanks for answering.

I have a good hot spark at the plugs even when it won't start. Starter motor turns the engine over at good speed. Battery is fresh. I'm apparently not getting fuel to the engine. The fuel tank is full. I've sanded the contacts and the fuse ends in the fuse box & replaced any questionable fuses. I will check the ignition module contacts next. I'm suspecting the fuel pump relay or the pump itself. Should I hear the pump run when I turn the ignition switch to on? Except for the click, I hear nothing at switch on.

kenwood · Post by **kenwood** » 13 Jul 2013, 19:15

Fixed, one of the two fuel pump relays was intermittently bad. I pulled it & found spots of rust on the base. Peeled the tabs, opened it up and red and green rust fell out. So I have replaced it with a toggle switch that will act also as a kill switch. Does the '83 244 have dual fuel pumps? I looked under the mat in the trunk and there was no access panel there so I'm guessing I only have one. This forum gave me some excellent ideas and I want to say thank you to all of the contributors, you guys are great!

Post by **jimmy57** » 13 Jul 2013, 22:11

There is an in-tank pump on an 83 244 DL.
The access panel is galvanized and on the left in the raised area forward in trunk.

kenwood · Post by **kenwood** » 14 Jul 2013, 09:51

Ahhh, yep, I didn't look up there. Thanks jimmy57. Hope I never have to use that info...Ha! My 244 has 310k+ on it, amazed that anything still works.