Sometimes when I am at a red light...when the light turns green....my car stutters and the engine acts like it wants to die out. This isn't to often but is a beginning problem once in awhile. Here are the things I have done to it to rule out:

1) New fuel filter 2 years ago
2) New external fuel pump 3 years ago
3) New spark plugs a year ago

Any suggestions?


Thank you,
-Darin

 

Have you pulled any codes?

 

no, that's all new to me. what do i pull codes with?

 

if your going to do a tune-up you should do cap, rotor, wires, and plugs all at the same time.

I would even though in a new set of plugs even though you just did them.

 

This is tough to fix. An intermittent rare problem like this may be caused literally by anything involving spark or fuel or sensors. You'd probably have to live with it unless you make it your life's work and throw a lot of money at it which is doubtful... I'd keep an eye on it and look for signs of the problem getting worse, then may be do something.

 

Engine and OBD Diagnostic Codes

Read that page. It's also a great website, not the most easy to navigate for specifics. There is loads of experience there.

 

What does this cold start valve do? It's pretty expensive for such a small part. Would it be the root cause of my problem?

1989-1993 Volvo 240 Cold Start Valve

Thanks,
-dman

 

I've never had a car with them, bit I understand that they can actually make the car harder to start more than not. If it was stuck open, you would have a way rich mixture. Probably black smoke in the exhaust and definitely blackened plugs. I don't think that's the case. You could unplug it just to make it not work, but if it's stuck open that won't make a difference. Once again, I don't think that's likely.

Have you tried that link and pulled codes? Are there none?