My girlfriend has an 86(?) 240DL automatic. Recently it has been acting like the alternator was going out. She went and got it checked and she was told it was fine. shortly there after, it wouldn't start. I poked around and found that it tries to turn over and it pumps fuel to the injectors, but it wouldn't go any farther than that. The spark plugs are dry as a bone. Anyone know anything about this? All I know how to do on a car is tinker and read the shop manual. I got nothing out of the manual so any help would be awesome!!!! Thanks

Jacob

 

I would start by holding a plug wire next to the fender while cranking to see if you have spark.

 

How about your fuel pressure regulator? I got the same and changed the thing....works ok....

 

So you have dry plugs and it cranks, as said, check for spark, then check the injectors are actually being commanded to inject. A noid light is cheap and will tell you straight away.
Even if the FPR was playing up, you'd either have LOTS of fuel or at least some.

Regards, Andrew.

 

There is a spark and there is lots of fuel pumping all the way up to the injectors. Just nothing past that. It seems like there is something not sending a signal to inject or do what ever needs to be done. A "noid light" will tell me if they are working then? What is a noid light and how do I use it?

Thanks.

 

I suspect the fuel pump relay (system relay), which is actually two relays in one -- the FI system and the fuel pump system. If it's original I would replace it anyway based on general principles (24 yrs old). It's a white plastic box, about 1"x2", clipped to the firewall above the passenger's toes. To get at it you need to remove the felt panel above the passenger's legs. You could remove the relay and jumper some pins in the socket to test. It's a 3-legged jumper -- (1) socket terminal 30 to (2) and (3). (2) socket terminal 87-1. (3) socket terminal 87-2. Turn the key and the car should start. Or if that seems like a lot of work just replace the relay.

 

The injectors are powered by the fuel pump relay and grounded by the fuel ECU. After disconnecting the connector on a injector, a noid light can be inserted ... it will flash every time the circuit is grounded. They are fairly cheap at parts stores.

You may also want to try starting it after unplugging the air mass meter (with the key off).