1987 Volvo 240 Wagon

240oldie · Post by **240oldie** » 11 Jul 2024, 08:22

Hello.
My son has owned a 240 Volvo wagon for about a year. After putting some money into front suspension, exhaust, etc it was running well.
This summer he went to drive it, that day it was a heat index of 108. It was really the first time it had been driven in extreme heat.
It drove for 1-2 miles and then died in the middle of the road. Wouldn't start (acts like it's trying to turn over but doesn't catch). He had it towed to one of two car repair places that will work on this old of a car. After talking with the mechanic, I could tell he really didn't want to work on it, the next day when the car was there it started up just fine. The mechanic never actually drove it but told us he could start replacing parts and guessing on what the problem was (since it wasn't dying for him there). My son is going into college and doesn't have unlimited funds this summer so he decided since it was starting and seemed to be ok now, to drive it home. The day he drove it home it was hot but not 108 hot. I was driving behind him, I noticed there was some black smoke out the exhaust as he gave it gas (something new that we hadn't seen before). He came to a stop sign and it died again. And wouldn't start. This time he chose to have it towed home.

I have found an article online where someone with a 1990 240 has the exact same problem and it was the ignition coil which is easy enough to replace. Their issue also happened in extreme heat and after the car cooled down, it would also start up and seem fine for a few miles.

I also found articles that say it could be the fuel injector. Though would that cause it to die immediately or cause it to run rough? It would explain the black smoke.

I am no car expert at all (quite the opposite). I was hoping to get some advice...would you replace the ignition coil first or the fuel injector based on those symptoms?

Thank you!

5underpressure · Post by **5underpressure** » 11 Jul 2024, 09:28

Fuel air and spark, I would get it to quit again and check for spark.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 11 Jul 2024, 12:45

My thoughts as a long time driver of 240 Volvos:
It is more likely to be a coil failing than a fuel injector. Coils fail when they get hot or get hot when they fail. With only one coil on these cars, they just stop running.
But you can easily test the coil for function when it stops running. Get a timing light and clamp it on the coil to distributor wire. Crank the engine and you should see the timing light flash every second if coil is good. This test will only tell you the coil is good at that time. It may still fail in the future if it gets hot.
If you replace the coil, try to get a Bosch coil.
A failing fuel injector is likely to not be intermittent.
volvolugnut

Post by **BlackBart** » 11 Jul 2024, 14:36

^^^ Agree with lug.

Also - is this car new enough to have an oxygen sensor? Check that. (black smoke, way too rich)

Post by **volvolugnut** » 11 Jul 2024, 19:04

More ideas:
Pull all the spark plugs and see if any are black. Black means not firing or getting too much fuel. Check the plug gaps - need about 0.030 inches. All plugs should look the same or there is some problem.
Check the plug wires. Are they frayed, oil socked, or stiff, or cracking? Then replace them all including the coil wire. Check all the plug and coil wires are tight on plugs and distributor.
Check the air cleaner - if very dirty it will choke the engine and run rich with black smoke and plugs.

Mechanics today do not want to work on cars they do not know. It does not make them money and gets return calls. Fix it yourself if possible with our help or find a Volvo shop. If you are in Kansas City area, you should be able to find a good one.
volvolugnut