Can a 240 run on two cylinders?
 

Is it even conceivable for a 1993 Volvo 240 to be running on two cylinders (because the rear two spark-plug wires were supposedly detached)....


... and then for there to be no discernible difference when the wires are attached?

I've heard running on three but two seems rather hard for it too...

I don't mean to sound as if you don't now how the firing order goes

Just to get it out of the way and brain storm a bit...

FIRING ORDER OK?

Yes, it will run on two cylinders but quite badly, very lumpy idle.
If the wires were detached, then attached and no discernible difference was noted, the engine must have other issues for those same cylinders NOT working properly such as valves, plugs, etc.

I was once out on a four-hour jouney... and lost a cylinder... and got nervous... then lost another cylinder... and got more nervous... but I made it home, albeit slowly. And if you lost even one cylinder, you'd notice. Two you will REALLY notice. But it will run, and even get you places. I just don't recommend it.

The reason I asked...
 

Is because a mechanic told me that the rear two of my spark-plug cables were not seated properly and that therefore those two cylinders were not firing. However, before him telling me that the idle was relatively smooth and I had even had the car up to 80 MPH on the highway. In addition, after the mechanic supposedly reconnected the cables, there was no noticeable improvement in idle smoothness RPMs or anything else.

I posted my question, with little additional information, because I didn't want to influence anyone's answer. I am now convinced that said mechanic was lying through his teeth. This now means that both Volvo shops on Alameda Island are run by liars and cheats.

I am very cautious with "shops". These days unless I know the people and have used them before and tested them, I prefer to do things myself.

The situation with many mechanics is near a tragicomical point: the things they say, recommend, and misdiagnose make for incredible tales. I think that mechanic shops are much worse even that car dealers as far as honesty and truthfulness. When you walk into one of these places with the soft music, leather couches, cookies, and a hostess greeting you and some fast talking know-nothing salesman disguised as a "master" of automoblism approaches you, run! Of course, the vast majority of the public knows next to nothing and gets routinely fleeced and is unwilling to complain, so the travesty continues...

The cure? Buy a new car, or become an expert on something like old Volvos and do your own thing--not necessarily all the work needed but be knowledgeable enough to know when you are being snowed.

yeah... you would not be making it to 80 MPH on two cylinders. I limped home at about 45 when I lost two cylinders. Guys is probably not to be trusted.