Where to start....I inherited this ride from my wifes uncle. Its in good shape inside and out, he was the only owner. The car was hard to start and hard to keep running, it had been a year since started and ran. First thing I did was change out the rotor button, dist cap, spark plug wires, fuel filter, and the ignition coil. The car starts after multiple attempts and just about stalls then revs back up. If I don't let the car warm up, it stalls when I press the gas pedal. Once the car warms up, it idols better, when cold idols real hard, when warm, idols better but still hard, shakes the car. Any ideas on why it is so difficult to start and why it is stalling out? Any suggestions, questions are welcomed! Thanks in advance!!

 

does it have fresh gas in the tank, or is this gas thats been sitting in the car for over a year?


1976 is an early model, those generally had k-jetronic fuel injection, which is pretty simple but gets gummed up if it just sits.

after a session of running, sorta, like you describe, pull all 4 spark plugs, and compare them. a good plug should look medium grey and not be wet with fuel. way down on this page are examples of spark plugs in different conditions, along with some explanations...
Volkswagen Ignition - Spark Plugs

 

Yeah, that jewel needs an Italian tune up. Fill it up with good, clean, high detergent gas and run the snot out of it. By the way I am very jealous, I had a 75 wagon and getting rid of it is one of my very few regrets in life even if it was that obnoxious Volvo orange.

 

a 76 242 is probably a flatnose? with the single round headlight in the blacked out square insert? total classic.

 

Yep! Looks just like the blue car you posted a pic of only orange! My wifes uncle estimated roughly 10,000 miles ago he had the entire engine rebuilt, top to bottom. Yes, I have to admit, like a dumbass, there was old gas in it. I put 5 gallons of the top notch, ethanol free fuel in her on top of the old and also added Lucas fuel system cleaner. He said he put sta-bil in the fuel tank after he realized he wasnt gonna drive it anymore. He bought the car brand new. Gave me the manual with it. He also had the original window sticker and the receipt for his $50 down payment! The car needs a paint job and a couple of dents popped out but overall given the age, its in fair shape. I plan on the paint job, repainting the wheels, and painting the black headlight buckets. Thanks for the replys!!

 

I posted a pic on the thread of the orange beast. Where can I find parts for it at!?

 

for aftermarket and tuneup type parts, Car Parts - OEM & Genuine European Replacement Parts Catalog | FCP Euro and Volvo Parts, Accessories and Performance Specialist Since 1963 are my main two go-to places.

for dealer parts, either a friendly local Volvo Dealer parts counter, if you have such a beast, or www.tascaparts.com but it really helps to know what you're looking for in advance.

if you can find a copy of 'VADIS' online somewhere (probably some russian pirate site) from circa 2005, thats the complete old style dealer parts catalog. its funky to use, but it has all the same diagrams the dealers had on their parts counter computers. catch-22, it has parts listed that are no longer available.

there's a fair amount of information on the old k-jet fuel injection systems at K-Jet.org | Mechanical Fuel Injection Power!, along with some scans of some of the Volvo factory 'green books' (the old school maintenance manuals. VCOA sells a DVD with scanned copies of every green book available for every year of 240/260 family cars. this can be handy, especially the accurate electrical diagrams. note these are quite copy protected, so they are pretty much your use only, you can't easily copy pages from them.

here's a typical greenbook wiring diagram page of my 740, the turn signal circuits...

 

congrats on your k jet....!

I got a 79 242

My car loves marvel mystery oil....4oz per full tank...makes it purr(well, a few days ago any who)
Is yours auto or stick?

if it is stick, I highly recommend replacing the transmission mount...very easy to Do and very cheap..like 18 dollars including shipping...fcpeuro or others...it will shift better...EASY JOB

check out K-JET.ORG you will find great repair manuals(green books).

If after you do a good fuel/engine tune up...it is still hard to start when cold these would be your culprits

1) cold start injection
2) warm up regulator.....pricey but can be re-manufactured or junk yard part....or ebay...
3) fuel filter

Parts are interchangeable from 84 B21F engines and older....turbo models the same with exceptions.
CHANGE OUT THE O2 SENSOR....IT WILL IDLE WAY WAY WAY NICER....DID ON MINE..

 

Hi
I have a 242 DL 75MY and I had te same problem with it.
I found an old mechanics that change for me all rust (particularly in the interior) gasoline deposit and change plugs and new wire distributor and the car begins to run and travel quite well.

My car also are 113 Orange and had been imported from canada in 1983 to Portugal