1990 240 stalls while driving but restarts??

rainbowwillow63 · Post by **rainbowwillow63** » 23 Sep 2009, 14:56

Hi All,
I'm new here but I'm so happy I found it!! Here's my problem-

I recently bought a 1990 240 wagon for $300.00. It sat under a tree for quite awhile so I replaced(actually the owner replaced at no charge) the fuel filter, tranny lines and front brake lines. Since then I have replaced the rear caliper, brake pads and lines. Also the plug wires. I drove out of my driveway to test the brakes and lost the exhaust system from the converter back. Fun, fun

Anyway, it has been running great until about a week ago. While driving at normal speed it started sputtering acting like it was out of gas, it had no power even when I pumped the gas pedal. I pulled over and it stalled. I turned it off, restarted it and it ran fine. I checked under the hood and found that the vacuum line from the pressure regulator was off, probably from putting on the plug wires. I reconnected it. Today it ran great all day but than it started doing it again. Sometimes it does it several times in a row and other times just once in awhile.

Here's the info:
1990 240(DL? How do you tell?) station wagon
230F engine, fuel injected.
Over 225,000 miles and still ticking

Any help will be appreciated. Everyone around here thinks I'm the crazy lady for buying it but it was so lonely I just had to do it!!

DeRail · Post by **DeRail** » 23 Sep 2009, 19:04

Rainbowwillow, welcome to Matthews Volvo Site

We're all crazy here (sorry guys) so you'll fit right in

Personally, I'd re-check all your vacuum lines. Not only making sure that the lines are connected but the plastic lines also have a tendency to develop cracks. Does the engine surge at all when you press on the brakes?

Given that you've just done work to the fuel system, my first thought would be to check that first, make sure your plug wires are secure, etc. and work backwards.

Darrell

rainbowwillow63 · Post by **rainbowwillow63** » 24 Sep 2009, 13:28

Thanks Darrell. I rechecked the vacuum lines-all okay. Made sure all wires were connected-all okay. It does not surge at all. It just dies like someone turned off the gas. No pinging or backfiring.

I did not change the fuel filter myself. I'm thinking maybe because it sat for so long(almost a year) and still had the gas that it was parked with maybe the tank has rust or something in it. He changed the filter before I even took it so maybe it got clogged with stuff as I drove the tank dry??

Yesterday and today it did it when I tried leaving the first time in the morning and it seems to be doing it when I go uphill or put it in passing gear. As soon as I pull over it stalls. I turn off the key, restart it in a few seconds and it runs like nothing happened. Something is telling me to replace the fuel filter again so I'm getting one tonight. I think I may put a clear one up near the engine as a little extra protection.
I'm still open to any ideas, maybe it's not the filter but I won't know unless I change it.

Post by **billofdurham** » 24 Sep 2009, 15:33

work backwards

Darrell's usual method!!!

If the car stood so long the fuel should have been drained as it deteriorates with age - just like I have done.

Your car is fitted with two fuel pumps - one in the tank and one under the car. The in-tank pump has a sock filter which can become blocked with sediment and this will stop the flow of fuel to the main pump.

I would suggest that you check first that both pumps are working. The in-tank pump can be heard kicking in by removing the filler cap, sticking your ear over the hole and having someone turn on the ignition. The main pump can usually be heard by getting down beside it and having someone switch on the ignition.

If you have any doubts about the in-tank pump it can be accessed quite easily through a hole in the floor of the luggage compartment. It is possible to clean the sock filter but for what they cost it is much better to replace it. If the sock filter has started to disintegrate, a common occurrence since Volvo took it out of the service schedule, then you are looking at replacing both pumps and both filters. For more information do a search on fuel pumps in RWD forum with the author Kmaniac in California USA. His posts are illuminating to say the least.

You could install a filter near the engine but I don't think that will help as you already have two.

Bill.

rainbowwillow63 · Post by **rainbowwillow63** » 26 Sep 2009, 09:21

Well, I changed the outside fuel filter yesterday-it did not help at all. I can hear both pumps running. I'm wondering though-the exhaust system fell off from the cat back and I just put 1 muffler back on it from the cat and out the side. Could that be the problem? I drove it a few times before it fell off and it ran fine???
Also, what about the fuel sensor? I cleaned the plugs last week and rechecked them yesterday, they were black but had no buildup. I don't know but this is driving me crazy!!

Post by **billofdurham** » 26 Sep 2009, 11:55

Two questions:

1. What caused the exhaust to fall off?

2. Do you have a check engine light (CEL) showing?

If the exhaust suffered "blunt force trauma" (usually a medical expression, not car) it is possible that the cat was damaged and is restricting the exhaust flow. This can cause intermittent problems causing a lack of engine power. Usually any cat problem would trigger the CEL but it is not always the case.

It is good that both pumps are running but you could still have a partial blockage of the sock filter on the in-tank pump. This one works as a priming pump for the main pump and any blockage would cut down the amount of fuel arriving at the main.

Bill.

rainbowwillow63 · Post by **rainbowwillow63** » 26 Sep 2009, 17:30

No, it wasn't blunt force trauma

I was taking the car out to test the new brakes and before I even got 50 feet out of my driveway it fell off piece by piece. It fell off in 4 pieces and when I got out to see what happened someone actually stopped to ask me if I was going to pass out.

Anyway, even with the exhaust off (I had to drive it to get parts) I had no problems at all. Thinking back it didn't start until I put this muffler on. Could I be restricting the flow by by putting the muffler on like I did? Oh, and I have never had the CEL on at all.

I know I'm crazy but I really like my tank. I just can't figure this out. Thanks for helping me!!

Post by **billofdurham** » 27 Sep 2009, 11:53

Try taking the muffler off and see if it will run. If it does you either put it on wrong or there is an obstruction inside - not unknown.

Did you know it is a silencer in the UK, a muffler is a scarf which is used when you want to get muffled up against the weather? I love the differences in our common language.

Bill.

rainbowwillow63 · Post by **rainbowwillow63** » 28 Sep 2009, 09:53

I took a hammer to the cat converter and it ran perfect. I must have knocked something lose when I put the muffler on, I hope!!

In the USA a silencer is for a gun

My mom used to call my scarf a muffler so I know what you mean.

I'll let you know how things are and thanks again!!

Post by **billofdurham** » 28 Sep 2009, 11:43

I took a hammer to the cat converter and it ran perfect

Amazing how quickly some people pick up the technical way to fix things.

I hope that does fix it for you but we are always here to help. Thank you for the update.

Bill.