I'm having trouble locating an apparent short in my car. It seems to be related to the ignition module wiring harness but that isn't absolutely certain. Tink runs just fine for a week or two and then, as happened today, starts just fine but makes a sort of surging, ebb and flow sort of sound (how do you describe a sound?) and dies. I've used my mini jumpers to jump the fuel pumps and that isn't the problem, the fuses are all fine and everything else that usually work still does. The car just won't start. My mechanic, who works on the principal that since I've been messing around with these cars for 20+ years I should do everything I can before he get to it, says there is probably an exposed wire that grounds out occationally. I'll be darned if I can find it. Sometime plugging and unplugging the wire harness there on the right front by the windshield washer res will do the trick (or maybe that's just coincidence). I have the service manual for an old 1975 240 that still serves for many problems on my 1982 but the wiring diagram is just a little too different. The Haynes book covers too many years and models. Does anyone know a site where I can look at the wiring for the 82s or ahve you got any other ideas of things to check?
Tinkerbell

did you check the fuel pump relay?

the symptoms suggest the ign module itself is on way out [mine died 10 times on way to repair yard]

get one from a demolition yard and try it

you will not have wasted money as yours WILL fail eventually [even if not present problem] so good to have a spare with you

Thanks for the ideas, I did get this problem resolved, if anyone has a similar problem mine was that the wires in the harness that plugs into the ignition module were missing their sleeves. Apparently this occationally created a magnetic field which acted like a short. Why it didn't happen all the time is a mystery. But been running great!

So what exactly did you do to fix it, it migh help me to know as I am having a similar problem.