Found a nice 89 245 that I'm purchasing, but has been sitting for about two years. Very clean interior, very clean engine bay and the owner seems legit as far as everything goes.

I'm going to bring it home probably Tuesday.

Tires still have air, but will pump them up, will change the oil, put a new battery in and then ? Do I dare try to start it? Or what should I do to proceed?

I sold my 86 245 two years ago and have wanted another ever since, so here I go.

Thanks,

Jeff

It LIVES. I think the starting problems I had when I tried yesterday was the battery contact and strength. New battery, cleaned up the contacts and she fired up after a couple of cranks. WhooooHoooo.

But, isn't there always a but, when I went to change the spark plugs, #1 broke clean off - leaving only the threads. Not good. In 30 years of working on cars, I've never seen that.

Suggestions on removal, with as little cost and damage as possible, are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jeff

Why was it parked?
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240s: 2 drivers and some parts cars

Parked because owner is a bike rider, didn't want to pay insurance, etc .. He says it ran when parked, and I believe him.

No luck getting her started this morning. Put a freshly charged battery in, two gallons of gas and checked the oil and other fluids and the 25 amp fuse - all good. Rotated all the fuses in the fuse box and made sure all were good.

Turned the key, cranked just fine but didn't catch. Repeated numerous times and not even a hint of wanting to run.

Took the coil wire from the distributor cap and put near the body and cranked - no spark. Pulled the #1 wire and it broke off - so, I know I need new spark plug wires, which may or may not explain no spark, but what else should I look at in regards to that?

Took the fuel line off leading into the fuel rail, fresh gas was there, so I think fuel pumps are OK. Did notice the filter return hose was dry when I took it off. Is that normal?

Going back in the a.m. to spend a bit more time with it, any step by step diagnostic ideas for me?

Thanks,

Jeff

Is the space the car is in relatively quiet or at least quiet enough to hear the pumps if they are running?

When you turn the key to the full on position (just short of the position that the starter engages) you should hear the fuel pumps run for a few seconds. Is that happening?

Randy

Not sure. I was listening for them.

I'm thinking that was a typo and you are saying you were not listening for them. That system (when properly working)will do a short run on the pumps when the key is turned on.

A quick was to get the pumps to run is to jumper the fuses at the door. The easiest way is to make up a jumper with an alligator clip on each end. Clip one end on the left side of fuse 4 and the other end on the left side of fuse 6. Once you have done that you should hear the pumps run. With that jumper in place they will run as long as there is power in the battery.

With the jumper in place try to start the car. If it starts it should run as long as the jumper is in place and you can drive it home. Just remember to remove the jumper when you shut the engine off so the pumps will stop as well.

This procedure (if it runs) will allow you to remove the car from the previous owners property and get it back to yours. Then you can trouble shoot it at your leisure.

Good luck.

Randy

Check for wet plugs, if they are it could be the powerstage.
Get Bosch cap and rotor and quality Bosch or Bougicord wires.
Also could be a failed ECU, is it a pink label 561? If you need an ECU let me know.
Dan

Dan,
I need a computer for my 91 245. Non EGR automatic. running a turbo one now. Greg Impalaman6@comcast.net
Sorry about the jack

You should change the fuel filter, fuel and coolant (distilled water) as well. 89 might have a computer that was upgraded.

My boat just sat for two years. The gas smelled horrible. I siphoned it out, blew out the lines and with new gas it was no issue. I mixed one part of this crap gas with 2 parts new gas for lawn mower use. The mower runs but it's not happy with 1/3 crap gas. My pickup truck sat for almost a year and It started but with the old gas will not climb a hill. I had to dilute it down with high octane to get it to behave

Todays gas does not have the 'stay' power of gas from the 80's. It may start, but with the octane levels in the toilet, it may not do much more then idle.

I think I would siphon out what I could, Add fresh to it. Unhook the the hose in the back of the Fuel regulator and turn the Key to the ON position a few times and let the Fuel pump carry the fresh gas to that point before hooking it up and trying to fire. Then as Randy said. Let the fluids circulate before hitting the highway. A nice idle down the road would let the axle bearings circulate grease and oil too.
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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.lyse.net/brox/TonyPage4.html

I would be inclined to simply put a battery in it and try to start it. Depending on how much gas is in the tank and the conditions it has experienced it might just fire up.

Make sure you have some indication of braking power by seeing if the correct pedal is there.

If it starts let it idle (if it will) or at least keep the rpm's low. Watch the temperature gauge. Once you see some movement there slip it into gear without applying throttle and let the juices circulate. Move from Drive to Reverse (assuming automatic)and allow things to get pumped up.

Carefully allow the car to move and check if the brakes will actually stop the car. Check lights and signals and drive on home.

More often than not I have found that cars that have been sitting for quite some time will start and run without much effort. That does not stop me from using fuel stabilizer in my seasonal storage cars but you might be surprised how long a car can sit without ill effects.

I would not wait long to top up the tank with fresh gas after starting the car. Perhaps the owner was forward thinking enough to eliminate as much air space as possible by filling up before parking the car.

I do not use dry gas in cars with fuel injection but in this case I would not hesitate to add a bottle or two to deal with any condensation that may have pooled in the bottom of the tank.

Good luck and let us know how it does.

Randy

Think I'll give it a try. Taking a battery, pump to inflate the tires and some gas. I'll give it a go and see ...

Thanks for the advice, looking forward to being back as a brick owner.

she's home. Now I can figure the stuck/broken spark plug issue at my leisure. She's at least in the driveway. Aaaah, back in a brick.

Fixed and running on all four cylinders. Drove her around the block, not enough to tell much, but she's whole and I'm thrilled.