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Help!! Why won't my 240 DL start (engine floods)?[ALL/83] posted by Dennis Lusis on
Tuesday, 15 September 1998, at 1:05 a.m.
My 240 DL (130,000 miles) has previously exhibited difficult starting, whether the engine is already hot or cold. When it starts, it initially runs VERY rough and spews lots of smoke out the tailpipe--it appears to be running very rich. After 5 - 10 seconds or so, the excess fuel burns off and I can get the engine to rev strongly and smoothly. It also exhibits idle "surging" from time to time or idle that is unstable, sometimes going up and down. This idle instability seems unrelated to whether the car was hard to start that day or not...
Recently things got worse. Got in one morning when the engine was "cold" and it just would not start at all, not even one combustion sputter-just like there was no spark. (I live in S. Cal., so "cold" means 60 degrees F.) Smelled lots of unburned gas at the tailpipe. Waited 3 hours and then it just started perfectly like nothing at all was wrong.
Brought it to a shop and they diagnosed as having a faulty fuel pressure regulator. I replaced it, and there was no improvement. I have checked the spark during the times it won't start and it is very strong, so the ignition is OK. Pulled a plug during same time and found it to be wet with gas, of course.
HELP! What could be causing this flooding???
--
Dennis Lusis
Re: Help!! Why won't my 240 DL start (engine floods)?[ALL/83] posted by Chris Mullet on
Tuesday, 15 September 1998, at 7:53 a.m.
If you have a timing light (or if not, borrow one), connect it up before starting the cold engine. Watch it while cranking the engine. Of course if the engine starts, you'll have to wait and do the test again later. If it doesn't start, did the light flash? At least you can maybe determine if it's a too much fuel or not enough ignition problem.
Your mechanic should have (and maybe they did) check the fuel pressure before changing the regulator. Do they specialize in Volvos, or do they "Specialize in All Makes and Models of Domestic and Foreign Autos and Trucks"? If the latter, post your location and possibly someone can suggest a good shop.
--Chris
Re: Help!! Why won't my 240 DL start (engine floods)?[ALL/83] posted by Dennis Lusis on
Tuesday, 15 September 1998, at 12:56 p.m.
Chris:
Thanks for the advice. Guess you didn't notice that I checked the spark while cranking under "no start" periods and it is very strong. Could be the spark timing is way off, but the car passed smog check recently and they check for timing during this certification. I will have to check the timing when I get the car started up.
Wouldn't start again last evening, I let the car sit overnight and this morning it started. It was again a very rough start, the car idled terribly, almost to the brink of stalling and any attempts to touch the gas pedal would make it head toward a stall. Just letting the car rough idle for 10 or 20 seconds caused it to eventually smooth out, then I could rev the engine without any problems, save for one minor problem described below.
I have also noticed that even when the car is running OK, it momentarily hesitates whenever I suddenly give it gas, then recovers and revs up OK. My wife's 85 '240 does not hesitate in this manner.
Wonder if this additional clue can help somebody out there recognize my problem...?
Thanks to all who comment on this.
DENNIS
--Dennis Lusis