I bought a '89 Volvo 240Gl, in great shape. It's been sitting for a few years, but with a new battery, and some 91 Octane fuel, it fired up nicely. I drove it home, which is only 1/2 a mile, and got to work checking it thoroughly. I have a background in Japanese printing equipment, and I've done a timing belt change with several different cars. I'm no stranger to a set of sockets and wrenches, but this one has be a bit befuddled...

The car starts, and runs just fine. I get no check engine light, no issues other than needing to reset the service engine light. The engine gets warmed up, and it runs for maybe 10-15 mins just fine. Suddenly, the engine just dies. No sputtering, but stops. It will crank and crank, but never start. If I walk away for a few hours, or let it sit overnight, it runs like a top in the morning. I've seen info about cracking the fuel cap open a bit to prevent a vacuum, and I've made sure that the fuel pump relay is working, going as far as reflowing the solder joints.

If the engine ran rough, I'd understand some issue starting, but after a turn or two, it fires right up, even in the 30 degree weather. Someone mentioned the catalytic converter, and that it could be a possible issue, but I'd like to hear what others have done in response to an issue like this. Most of what I have read is cars that won't start, not ones that run fine then stop.

Thanks!

-Trevor