I have a 240GL ('85 i think) and it is not firing in pots 1 and 3. I parked the car at the end of the day like usual and all was good but when I started it that night it was missing in 2 cylinders. I have replaced the distributer cap and rotor button and have tried other leads and spark plugs but to no evail. I'm getting spark at the dizzy, I'm getting spark at the lead end, I'm getting spark at the plug when it is out of the head and plugged into the lead. What could be causing this? It is really staring to anoy me. I'd really like to get it sorted with out the visit to the mechanic and the $100p/hr that comes with that. Any help or sugestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Plugged fuel injectors on 1 and 3?

I'll give that a try. Do you just unscrew the nut that is on the end of the fuel line and ae the injectors in there? Not like any Ford I've had so I'm unsure.

my '88 GL has the gallery removed via a few bolts and careful pulling on it to extract the galley with the injectors, which are then individually removed by sliding the metal U clip away and it will prob fall off. recommend new O rings for both ends of injector once removed. If you have CIS, then I suspect its just a compression fitting to undo (use 2 spanners!) and then undo the injector retainer. NB with injector gallery removed on 88 model, I turned on the ign, to check that the injectors were NOT dripping fuel. After disconnecting all the wires on one side of th e HT coil, one could then crank the motor to observe the spray pattern, thus proving injectors clean and working, or not. CIS will normally spray fuel constantly with ign on and the airflow detection flap raised enough to turn the pumps on. Have you compression test all cylinders??? Someone may have forgotten to adjust the valves, which wear open.

I am assuming that you get this miss at low speeds and that is why you are able to
diagnose the individule cyclinder. Usually ignition problems occur at higher speeds. That is why Manxman is thinking fuel. He may be right. Or at least looking in the right direction.

Is it running poorly at idle, and then you remove sparkplug wires to identify the bad cyclinder? Does it work any better at higher rpms?

You should also check for the fuel injector solenoids clicking. You could do this with a longer screwdriver placed on the body of the injector and the handle end to your ear. Each injector should be clicking. If you are not sure of the sound remove the injector connector while it is running and listen for the change in sound.

MOST OF THESE PROBLEMS ....

are caused by the failure of the VSS or RPM indicator sensor mounted on top of the transmission bell housing. This part should be change FIRST whenever you start having wierd loss of power problems, stalling, bad mpg, hard starting, etc. You can buy this part at Auto Zone for about $50, or I got my OEM Volvo one for $25 on eBay.

I once knew a Volvo mechanic and asked him which parts he would always keep on hand for his 240. He said a starter, and a VSS (Vehicle Speed) sensor!

Here it is on Autozone:

http://www.autozone.com/R,1329015/vehicleI...oductDetail.htm

The '85 240 probably doesn't have a crank position sensor. I think it started in 1989. Before that was the Hall sensor in the dizzy.

Hey syco26,
Here's a quick backyard machanic check to see if you are getting fuel to each cylinder.
Pull all your plugs, check that they are clean and dry. Re-install the plugs, pull the coil wire. ( Some cars it may be safer just to ground the plug wires).
Crank the engine 10-15 seconds. Pull the plugs. If you find any dry, there's no fuel in that cylinder.

Hall effectit is, and LH too. Still haven't heard that it has enough compression....., suggest also swap 1 known working plug with a known dead one, and see how it changes-might just be bad plugs-or worse. It will be different, either both those cylinders fail, both those cylinders run, or one of those cylinders runs, but which one? report pls.

RECHECK the order of the plug leads on the dizzy 1-3 -4- 2 Clockwize!!!! leave on the ones that work, check the others don't need swapping????