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Elusive intermittent no spark problem ? 200 1985

My car is having an intermittent no spark problem . The symptoms are very similar to those when the Hall sensor gave out a couple of years ago . However, the hall sensor seems to be working ( pulsing the injectors) when the engine is in the no spark condition . Sometimes jiggling the wires in the engine compartment between the computer and alternaton seems to get it going but not always . I have cleaned all connections and fuse terminals and even gone through the wiring harness at the ECU to engine area . At this point the car is too unreliable /safe to drive and I am stuck in trying to figure out how to isolate this problem and really need some step by step help. - thank








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Elusive intermittent no spark problem ? 200 1985

" the hall sensor seems to be working ( pulsing the injectors) when the engine is in the no spark condition ".

You're misleading yourself there, Joe.The Hall sensor is BASIC to spark, and has nothing to do with the injectors.

The Volvo/Chrysler ignition ("Chrysler" label on ignition CU?) sometimes has faults in the +12 volt wiring to Coil Primary terminal # 15. Two things to try are:

1) Clean both coil primary terminals by taking on & off a few times.

2) Run a Temporary jumper wire from Battery + to Coil #15, then try starting. If it does start, you can leave the jumper connected—but disconnect it whenever the engine is off.

There are specific Hall Sensor/ICU tests, but let's see if the above helps first,

Bruce
--
Bruce Young,
'93 940-NA (current), '80 GLE V8 (Sold), '85 244 ti, '83 245t
'76 244 (lasted only 255,000Km), 73 142 (98Km)
'71 144 (track modified--crusher bound)
New 144 from '67 to '78, Used '62 122 from '63 to '67








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Elusive intermittent no spark problem ? 200 1985

The ECU on my 1985 240 wagon has the Volvo ( no " Chrysler " label anywhere ) and the distrubutor is definitely Bosch issue . I will try your suggestion with the jumper the next time it quits . However I would appreciate your enumerating on the hall sensor and ICU tests so I can go ahead check them - thanks








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Elusive intermittent no spark problem ? 200 1985

The ECU on my 1985 240 wagon has the Volvo ( no " Chrysler " label anywhere ) and the distrubutor is definitely Bosch issue . I will try your suggestion with the jumper the next time it quits . However I would appreciate your enumerating on the so I can go ahead check them - thanks








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Elusive intermittent no spark problem ? 200 1985

I should have said "MPG" ignition. That's the more common one for the Chrysler developed system used on some '82s and the '83 — '88 240s. I'm surprised that your '85 still has the Chrysler distributor cap. I thought that most were converted to Bosch by then.

The MPG Ignition Control Unit (ICU) should be on the right side, near the washer reservoir. Here are 2 basic tests. There are also some additional voltage tests, if needed.

MPG Ignition tests
A - Hall/ICU Quick Check

1) Pull coil wire, attach/adapt to spare (grounded) sparkplug
2) Remove distributor cap
3) Rotate engine till the Hall Switch is centered in a Vane "window".
4) Turn Key ON
5) Pass a feeler gauge blade (or similar) through the Hall Switch (simulating the Vane)
•) If the Hall Switch and ICU are OK, you should get a spark and fuel pumps should run for a second.
•) Repeat step 5 as needed to verify spark and pumps.
•) If no spark, test ICU function below (eliminating Hall Switch)

B - ICU switching function

1) Key OFF. (Coil wire and spare plug still set up as in Step 1 above)
2) Remove the 3-pin plug from distributor body
3) Insert a jumper from pin B (Yellow wire) to pin C (Black wire)
(When jumper is REMOVED (with Key ON), the plug should spark, and the fuel pumps should run briefly.)
4) Turn Ignition ON. Check for spark and pumps as jumper is removed.
•) If Spark & Pumps now, suspect Hall Switch or wiring problem
•) If no Spark, suspect ICU or wiring problem

Bear with me if this isn't perfect. I don't have an example on hand, haven't seen one for some time, and had to pull this from two sources.

--
Bruce Young,
'93 940-NA (current), '80 GLE V8 (Sold), '85 244 ti, '83 245t
'76 244 (lasted only 255,000Km), 73 142 (98Km)
'71 144 (track modified--crusher bound)
New 144 from '67 to '78, Used '62 122 from '63 to '67








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Elusive intermittent no spark problem ? 200 1985

Sorry I screwed up my post - It is a Bosch distrubutor . I'll try what you mentioned if it stay dead long enough to cexk these this out. This intermittent problem is very frustrating . - thanks








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Elusive intermittent no spark problem ? 200 1985

OK, but please try the Coil #15 jumper for a few days, as I suggested earlier —

"2) Run a Temporary jumper wire from Battery + to Coil #15, then try starting. If it does start, you can leave the jumper connected — but disconnect it whenever the engine is off."

If the problem goes away while the jumper wire is being used, that will tell us where the problem is.


--
Bruce Young,
'93 940-NA (current), '80 GLE V8 (Sold), '86 240dl, '85 244 ti, '83 245t
'76 244 (lR.I.P at 255k), 73 142 (98Km)
'71 144 (ex circle track car)
Used '70 144 – '78 to '92, New 144 – '67 to '78, Used '62 122 – '63 to '67








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Elusive intermittent no spark problem ? 200 1985

Check your connection at the dist.also look under cap and rotor in dist to make sure no pick up wires are cracked or broken








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Elusive intermittent no spark problem ? 200 1985

I had a similar problem with my 89 240. Ended up being bad contact in the positive battery lead connector.

It looked fine, car would die with no warning, open hood wiggle the wires going into the battery terminal connector and it would run, wiggle again then it would die.

Cleaned wires, Replaced connector, no problems since.







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