Madeline has a 1994 2.4 NA 850. It is dead. This is her description of what happened:


Greg, I know you are busy and I sure would appreciate you coming up next weekend.
Here is the story: the car was running like a dream until a week ago Thurs. I think. It started to hesitate before starting when the key was on, but it did take off, then it started to have to shut off and restart a couple of times before it would take off. So I drove it Friday a week ago with no problems other than that. The oil leak was getting worse so I bought a new oil cap but that didn't stop the leak. So my brother came up from Illinois last weekend to help me change the rear camshaft seal. I barely could move the car to the garage out of the rain for it trying to die and it would backfire and smoke badly and once it blew the oil cap not off, but loose. We changed the seal and then it wouldn't do anything but turn over and not start. We bought a new battery but that wasn't it. My brother thinks the timing is off and he may have made it worse somehow. So that is the story and I have been scratching my head because it is strange the way it is. I would appreciate your input very much. I have the old explorer to drive so no problem.
Thanks a bunch.
Madeline


Any ideas ? It does not sound good to me. Maybe I should put the flame trap back in... This car has recently had a new timing belt, tensioner, idler, flame trap, intake gasket, and spark plugs. Is it even possible to install the distributor and get it out of time ? Fuel pressure regulator ? Where would you start ?

Thanks

Greg

Ditto with Tina re MAF. Unplug it and then try starting the engine. Your plugs should be fouled right now, but the car should idle nicely with the MAF unplugged. Do not unplug/plug in the MAF while the key is in posII. Unplugging the MAF will turn on the CEL of course. Don't bother driving with the MAF unplugged because the default enrichment will not work at higher RPMs.

Klaus
--
Common sense trumps a PhD

Did you try disconnecting the MAF and see if it runs better? Sounds like it is choking, maybe not getting enough air. Did you clean the throttle body etc?

http://volvospeed.com/Repair/egr.php

as to the oil leak issue , it sounds like the oil trap is blocked,youll have to remove the intake maifold to get to it ,once you get it off youll have to clean out where it attaches to the block with a piece of heavy wire or brush,as to how it is running ,my 850 was acting the same and i replaced the mass air flow sensor,afterwards it started up ok but still was stumbling off of idle .i checked my timing and while it isnt adjustable it was way off almost 50 degrees advanced,my manual suggested iy was either the crankshaft sensor or the computer i ordered the crank sensor as it was the least expensive of the two .i know thats alot of info but i hope it helps you good luck