My automatic 240 has 135,000 miles, has been 100% reliable on long trips, around town for the 3 years I've had it up until a few days ago.

Within the past 10 days, I've noticed when driving at city speed that the engine stops revving intermittently and then continues. When driving back home from up the street yesterday, it stalled at a stop sign. Started right back up, then stalled again in front of my house, I had to wait 10 minutes before restarting. On flat ground it could idle for a few minutes then turn off as if I had turned key myself. I drove it around the corner facing uphill slightly and left it for the night. Today, it will crank, but not start. I had the Air Mass Meter replaced in early '09.

Oh, and last week my charcoal filter came loose and was dragging for a hundred feet. I tied it up under the fender with crimp wire, and have noticed a rich gas smell up.
Not entirely sure where to proceed.

I changed the fuses and went over the prongs with an emory board, for the In-tank fuel pump, and the main fuel pump. Now I am not having any problems with starting, I drove around the block 4 times and didn't stall, and idle sounds good. However, its very dry now and I had trouble starting after a soaking rain. Could that be a clue as neither of the fuses were blown, just kind of cruddy and old. Or problem solved?

Common problems would be the 25 amp fuse by the battery and the fuel system relay in the passenger side foot well.
Dan

All previous posts are valid. I think I'd Throw a gallon of gas in teh tank and see if the car starts up. That would quickly answer the in-tank rubber hose question. then move on to the Fuel Pump Relay since it idles then shut off then idles OK again I think it is more likely then the Rubber hose in the tank.
I'm sure you read many times about resoldering this relay because they are prone to fail.

EDIT: Oh see you are new here . WELCOME...
Search: Fuel Pump Relay you will get plenty of knowledge on their failure.

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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.no.net/ebrox/Tony's%20cars.htm

If the gas tank is less than about half full, try filling it and see if the symptoms go away. If so, then it's a sign that the pickup tube in the tank has a leak and is sucking air instead of fuel. The fix to that is to get into the tank and replace the pickup tube and filter sock, and possibly the in-tank pump while you're there.
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In God We Trust. Everyone else, keep your hands where I can see them.

Hi Jhoweird,

I suspect wiring harness wires to ignition components, fuses making good contact, fuel pump relay overheating, grounding, or switching off.

Vaccum line from distributor to ECU condition? Hall sensor in dist. gone bad will cause no start on an '87. Coil?

Those are my best ideas for now.

Best wishes,

Brandon

With the engine off, disconnect the AMM. Start the car, if the car runs better but with no power, I would swap in a good AMM.