Help 740 running like !@#$

[johnboy740]

Well, my wife just came home and told me there's something wrong with the car. 89 740 Wagon. i went out and took it for a drive. At first I didn't notice anything wrong wit it, but as I went around the first corner and pressed on the accerator, the engine stumbled for a second or two and then took off like a shot out of a cannon. My first thought was just a little water under the distributor cap, it's really been wet here the last couple of days. I drove up the street checking the throttle response and noticed that it was really beginning to lag, I went around another corner and shifted into neutral and revved the engine, it seemed to rev alright but when i put it back into drive, it started missing and sputtering bad. I mean it wouldn't go over 10 MPH and I barely made it home and it died in the drive way. I got it started ack up and got it in the garage. I'll look at it tomorrow. No check engine light just no go. Any suggestions?

[sseir39]

First check all hoses leading to the intake manifold form the air mass meter. If there are cracks this will mess up the air to fuel mixture. If this is ok, I would suspect the air mass meter. The "runs but if I step on it" is rather typical of a bad air mass meter.

Be sure to check Brickboard RWD FAQ section for good trouble shooting.

Dick

[johnboy740]

I'll do that. When I finally limped it home, it would barely idle at all.

[johnboy740]

Well, this morning it won't start at all. It acts like the timing is way out.

[sseir39]

Tough call without seeing the car. If the fuel pump relay is good and there are no intake air leaks it sounds like an air mass meter. Crank position sensor is another possibility if your car has one.

Hope you find the problem soon. Timing?? You mentioned that, but unless you jumped a cog on the timing belt it is doubtful.

Dick

[johnboy740]

Running like a top now. Thanks for your help. I gave it a tune up, and cleaned the mass air flow meter.