Local independent shop had a limp-in 245DL off the freeway about 4 months ago. 1987 245, auto trans, c270K miles. They looked at it some: engine runs but no power. Shop said it's a fuel problem they can't figure out. After ALL that time the distant owner just mailed the shop the title and walked on the deal. This car has a nice straight body, gray-blue color, OK interior, VG tires. I'm checking to see what they want to dump the car. I hate to see it go to scrap but I'm uncertain what the problem is and with that mileage there could be plenty of other iffy things with the car. We do need to replace our '81 245GLT, but I'm concerned that I'm merely getting myself into another hugh project on a high mileage 240.

This car reads out to have a B23, and I'm can't remember what I've read about the B23's desirability. Thoughts?

What typically causes no power if engine runs?

Comments appreciated,
Dennis
Odessa/Ritzville, E. WA state

The 87 can have rust and engine wire harness problems.
Dan

If the ones that have it are just thinking about it, offer to take it away for them at no cost. See what you got-if not worth it consider options-parts car-craigslist-sell it cheap-maybe $200-$300? bury it and erect a memorial--or junk it.

The timing belt may have jumped a tooth or two, this will lead to low power.
Dan

Unless it's a creampuff chassis, it's probably not worth a lot of effort to get an engine that old running again. If it is a creampuff car in other respects, swap in a known-good engine and go.

My opinion and 5 bucks might buy you a cup of coffee at the airport, so take it for what it's worth.

Really depends on how the car was maintained. You should check the wiring harness at the gray connector and by the alternator for disintegration. Once you fix the engine problem, if the car has been taken care of, it might be a good investment. Any service records with it? I usually plan on spending a thousand or so on a used car in repairs/upgrades after I buy it.
--
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid

It's probably a project car.

The engine needs to be checked for compression.

B23's are "higher friction" than B230's. This might mean more worn parts at that kind of mileage.

I would think the timing might be off. Maybe the belt jumped teeth or the harmonic balancer is delaminated from the rubber mount.

Check it out in person, check the compression and timing and go from there. I would expect other engine issues to be repairable in a weekend or two, but you may be getting into a world of worn out bushings and bearings.

Happy Brickin

--
1990 740 Turbo, on its way to stock specs, maybe beyond

No
B23, B230F.
Depends really. How do they know it's fuel not spark?
FWIW I'm in Vancouver and there's a lower mileage car here for $300. Guy is selling it for parts
since it's actually an American car and so it's cheap. It'd probably be a better deal...

Thanks everyone:
Today the picture change a bit: I stopped by their shop to see what he had in mind. He, "was," busy, and said he hadn't made up his mind on selling it cheap or fixing it and selling it. They rarely fix anything, "foreign." I think he was too busy to bother discussing it because there is no potential money in it for them no matter what.

Most importantly, this fellow, (the owner), said it did NOT run. I just told him I check some time in the future; they know how to find me.

Next thing if it comes to this, is to get the key unlock it, and turn it over with the valve cover off. Having someone else watch to see if the cam moves. If she broke a timing belt, I'll know. On the outside it's a pretty car; only detraction is the living-in-warm-weather fogged plastic headlight covers.

The way I see it, it might be worth a couple hundred bucks for parts. And, if I'm lucky, a quick fix for a short term driver.

Dennis

You don't have to take the valve cover off to check for cam rotation, just take off the oil filler cap.
Dan

Gee. Yeah, that's what I meant......oil filler cap. Don't know why I said it that way....long day.

Maybe I should give up on old cars. Too bad. Seems like just a few short years ago that really, really good 240's were plentiful. Now the best bet for practicality, I guess, are the last model years....

Dennis

You could try looking at better starting points...

A 270.000 mike car will always be a 270,000 mile car no matter the brand.