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Weird Idle On My 1984 Volvo 242

My 1984 242 has developed a strange idle. It currently has 199,000 miles and last had plugs and rotor cap replaced a few thousand miles ago.

The engine speed at idle is speeding up and slowing down and sort of "surging". This has begun in the last thousand miles. It also has a tendency to die when initially started and than stay running the second time. This occurs when the engine is cold or warmed up and running for several hours. One other thing is that it begun pinging badly and has been getting worse. Is this a timing issue or a timing chain issue? I have had the car for 3 years and 65,000 miles and these problem have just cropped up recently. Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.

The car does run fine at freeway speeds.

Thanks,

Dave

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Reply to
Dave
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Rectify the intake vacuum leaks. If that doesn't cure the idle and pinging problems, make sure that the radiator is clear, the coolant is clean and that the O2 sensor hasn't been damaged from running the motor lean all the time.

Bob

Reply to
User

I would also check the wiring harness. If I am not mistaken, this is one of the years (1982-1987) Volvo used that stupid biodegradable wiring harness. My 1988 780 gave me fits with hard starting when warm, idle surging until I replaced mine. Once I replaced it, it was like a different car.

Reply to
ted

It never hurts to clean the throttle body.

Reply to
Mr. V

Just got done fixing surging on an 83. Did the following in this order.

Fixed wires inside harness. Removed intake to do and just unwrapped bundle, spliced in new one at a time, rewrapped bundle.

Replaced Hall sensor in distributor which smoothed things out considerably.

Replaced the coil, it became too hot to touch after about five minutes of running that it just seemed like a smart thing to do.

The temp sensor for the ECU since it was getting really bad gas milage and the plugs were carbon fouled and wet.

Your situation may vary, except maybe for the Hall sensor, IMOP.

Duane

Reply to
Duane

A vacuum leak will also cause this sort of problem, but yes replace the wiring harness too if this hasn't been done. Personally I would replace

*all* the vacuum lines under the hood just as a preventative thing, it'll cost maybe 10 bucks for the hose.
Reply to
James Sweet

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