Hi, Gonna replace my flame trap,looks like my hand won't reach down in there.Any tricks to get to it? Looks like I might need to remove a couple hoses and wires to get to it.

Thanks, Phil Stone '85 245GL 187k

Phil -- on my '83, I remove my distributor cap, then I remove the Idle Air Motor from its strap harness. That opens up an easy path in for my left hand. On my '87, I removed the distributor cap, but the I.A.M. wasn't so much in the way as on the '83, so I left it in place. Count on getting scratches on the back of your hand.

Rob

Guys,

Would you know how to tell if your flame trap is the metal type or the plastic type, short of taking the thing out? I tried ordering from Megaparts and discovered there are 2 types, but since they are so cheap, I thought of ordering one of each. Does it make adifference? Thanks.

"...flame trap is the metal type or the plastic type...discovered there are 2 types...Does it make a difference?"

Nope. They're interchangeable.

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

ON my 82-240, and 87 740, I found the easiest way, for me, was to leave the flame trap in place and remove its holder from the car, you know the rubber hose that sits on top of the oil separator. Then once its out of the car remove the flame trap , replace it or clean it, then put the whole thing back. you'll want to check the rubber holder anyway. Both of mine were ripped and needed replacing. Check the other hoses as well.

Good luck

On both my '83 and '84 240's I was able to remove the flame trap by first disconnecting the large hose from the trap to the throttle body then the small tubing which connects to a nipple on the top of the intake manifold. I then snaked my right hand under the right side of the intake manifold and lifted the flame trap along with the two hoses off of the oil separator and removed them all together. It's a tight fit and you do it mostly by touch. You can look straight down between the branches of the intake manifold with a flashlight and see the trap and plan what to do. With the trap out you can clean both it and the hoses. Check the small hole in the nipple to be sure it's open. On my son's '88 240 the flame trap is mounted on a longer rubber hose so that it sits above the intake manifold for all to see and admire. Why did they take so long to do this?