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240 1987 240 Wagon no start

deezgilliams

deezgilliams

New member
Joined
Mar 4, 2017
Location
Newport, TN
So i just got an 87 240 wagon and it had been running awesome until a couple of days ago. I tried firing it and it just freely spins over but will not run. I have checked to make sure it has spark by pulling a spark plug and it had a nice spark to it. Next i tested the fuel pumps by jumping the 4th and 6th fuse and I could hear the pumps running, but i do not have a fuel pressure gauge so i don't know much pressure it has. So after that i
decided to check compression and had good compression numbers on all cylinders.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
The easy way to divide the question in half is to squirt some starter fluid in the intake. If it runs for a few seconds . . . fuel problem. No run . . . ignition problem.

Then you can chase the rest of the issue.
 
Alright so after trying the starter fluid test i'm even more confused. Starter fluid changed nothing, just kept spinning over. But i checked that i had spark at the spark plug and it seemed fine
 
Just doesn't make any sense to me. I'm no mechanic by any stretch of the imagination but, if I have fuel, either by spraying some starter fluid in the intake or fuel, compression, and spark at the plug it should at least try and run shouldn't it? Or am I missing something. This is my first time really working on a car so sorry if that's a newbish question.
 
You sure you have spark? Check to make sure the cam is turning, no broken timing belt. You may need a helper for this. Check the 25 amp fuse in the engine bay. also check the wires and condition of this holder, known failure point.
 
Yes I checked spark with an in line tester, earlier and by pulling a plug and watching it fire. cam is turning too. I looked to make sure the 25 amp fuse wasn't blown. I haven't inspected the holder though so i'll do that first thing in the morning.
Just cant figure out what the issue is since i seem to have everything need for a running engine.
 
Just for kicks replace fuses #4 and #6 (no matter what they look like) and take a bit of sand paper to the contacts.
 
Sitrep:

I went to town earlier to buy some replacement ceramic fuses and picked up some blade fuses so i could replace the 25 amp fuse in the bay.

Got home replaced fuse 4 and 6 fuel pump fuses and cleaned the contacts.
Replaced and inspected the 25 amp fuse and everything there seemed to be fine.

Tried to start the car and nothing has changed, car just keeps spinning over but will not fire.
So I retraced my steps today and verified that each plug has spark so that is good.

I then tried the starter fluid method to see if it was a fuel issue again, but even with the starter fluid the car refuses to do anything.

I'm really at a loss right now, I don't have a clue on what to do next so any help would be greatly appreciated
 
Verify that the timing belt hasn't slipped by setting the engine to TDC and checking the timing marks on the cam and intermediate shaft pulleys. You can also remove the distributor cap and verify that the rotor is pointing to cylinder #1.

TimingMarks.jpg


TimingMarks.jpg
 
Alright so i'm gonna sound pretty stupid but i decided since I knew for a fact i was getting spark i sprayed a s**t ton of starter fluid and voila it ran for a second and shut off, so its definitely a fuel related issue.

Weird thing is though whenever it died I still heard the main pump running so I know the relay and pump fuses aren't the issue. What should i look at next?
 
I assume it was the main pump.

I went back out to mess around with it and cleaned up the grounds from the valve cover and the 2 grounds for the injectors and it fired right up.
I don't know if that was the issue or if the problem just mended itself.

Anywho do you guys have any recommendations for things that i should check for, now that it is running?
I would like to make sure that the problem is 100% fixed instead of just temporarily mended.
 
the only 2 time my brick wouldn't start is the fuel pump relay and in-tank fuel pump.
main fuel pump before dying makes annoying sound for some time.
 
Well I checked over the wiring and it all seems to be in really good shape (no signs of any failed wiring insulation).

I decided to check the local junkyard for some fuel pump relays and sadly came up empty handed after checking 4-5 cars, so I ordered one from IPD and should be here by Thursday.
Also while I was at the junkyard I picked up a spare 554 ECU, but that didn't turn out to be the culprit, but for 10 bucks it was worth a shot.

Whenever the relay arrives i'll let yuns know how it goes. Appreciate all the input guys!
 
deezgilliams said:
Sitrep:

I went to town earlier to buy some replacement ceramic fuses... .
Click to expand...

Just for future reference you can use the Buss style glass fuses - they are actually preferable since they are a little less fickle IMO.

I'm guessing you have a main fuel pump issue...

Have you replaced the fuel filter?
 
Are you sure you're getting power to the 25 amp fuse that you replaced? I had an intermittent no start problem caused by corrosion on the connection the positive battery cable. Removal of the positive cable for diagnostics would jiggle things around and occasionally fix the problem.
 
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