First....... I really enjoy this board. I recently bought an 86 245 and I've noticed it idles slow on start up.... not at Problem now but maybe in the winter.... After warm up it idles "ok" .. Idle motor? Temperature sensor? Cold start injector?.... I learned these words from this board!LOL. Also The coolant temp gauge in the dash works sometimes for a little while.... From what I've read here there is a compensating P.C. board in the circuit to hold to temp gauge from fluctuating rapidly?..... Could it have a cold solder and where is it located? One last question..... I have had a clunking sound from under the front end on dirt roads or curbs so I changed the ball joints...... 168,000 miles.... figgered they needed changed..... Still have some clunking.... Slack at the top of the stuts where they swivel? Steering feels tight.... I love tinkering with this car.....Thanks all in advance.........Bob

Hello Bob-

Clunking sound is most likely the large A-arm bushings at the rear of the front suspension arms. If you jack up one of the front wheels you'll notice that the suspension arm is attached to the subframe of the car at two points: one in line with the wheel, one just behind it. This rear pivot point is a pretty low-tech arrangement where a large bolt passes through a large bushing made of metal and rubber. This bushing frequently shears so the metal inner and outer tubes are no longer connected. As you hit a bump, the inner metal tube and suspension arm bolt bang around and make noise. This had been so neglected on my brother's 240 wagon that the metal housing holding the bush had distorted- when you hit a bump, the entire bushing moved inside the housing and re-aligned the front end. Very disturbing. The good news is, it's an easy fix. I took a spare housing, bashed in a new bushing, and replaced the old housing and bushing in one go on the car.

Good luck-

The temp gauge problem could be the thermostat. If the gauge reads normal, then the thermostat is working, but if the gauge drops to the bottom, the thermostat is probably sticking open. If you don't know when the thermostat was last changed, now might be a good time to do it.

Bob,

I also have an 86 wagon. Here's what I would do: Others will have some more advice. First, clean the throttle body. You'll need carb spray and a new gasket. This may help the idle problem. The car is supposed to idle higher at start up, then the idle slowly settles in to about 800. Yours seems to do the opposite. Cleaning the throttle body will usually bring the idle up. You will probably have to bring the idle down with the black knob on the throttle body.

Second, you will need to pull the instument cluster. Go slowly and mentally label which wire or cluster goes where. You will need a 6 and 7 mm to get out the screws which hold the cluster together. Tighten the pins that keep the gauge in place, clean the contacts on the voltage regulator, and clean the solder contacts on the board. It may be one of those.

Don Foster has picture of this proceedure. You should find this in the archives. It sure helped my gauge problems.

take care,

George