Chasing down problems on a recently purchased 1992 Volvo 240 - Car runs fine most of the time. Without any warning and intermittently it feels like it bogs down, sputters and will not accelerate unless done very slowly. Will not let me "punch it"! I ran the codes and it came up 1-2-1, Mass Airflow Filter. I cleaned the Mass Airflow Filter and the throttle body, then I took it out for a spin. Seemed better for awhile. Now, having similar problems as before the cleaning. No diagnostic codes, came up 1-1-1. Did notice the flame trap is dirty, so I will replace.

Any other ideas on what could be intermittently bogging my engine down?

I did recently replace the neutral safety switch, if that means anything.

 

Mass Air Flow Sensor...
Ah, it could be the fuel pump(s), mainly the main one.
Flame Trap? no.

 

Thanks lev,

Are you thinking the fuel pump in the tank or the one underneath near the fuel filter?

Oh yeah, the fuel filter was recently replaced as well.

 

the main fuel pump is the one next to the filter... the fuel pump thats in the gas tank is a feeder pump, and the car will run OK without it as long as you have 1/2 tank of gas or more (when gas gets low, the main pump would have to struggle without the feeder pump, this can result in power loss due to fuel starvation at heavy throttle high RPM).

I'd be checking for air leaks anywhere from the MAF to the throttle body to the intake manifold to the head.

cleaning a MAF rarely fixes anything, if its starting to go, its starting to go.

has this car had a base level tune up (new plugs, new bosch rotor+cap, spark plug wires, air filter) ?

 

Thank you Pierce.

I did discover the lower nut on the throttle body was loose before I took it off to clean it. Checked out the hose that runs between the throttle body and the MAF. It appears to be fine with no worn spots. Everything is now tight between the air filter housing and the intake manifold. Air filter is brand new.

Previous owner said they had just replaced spark plugs, wires and rotor/cap. I will double check those.

 

park the car somewhere where its totally dark, start it with the lights out, pop the hood, and let your eyes get dark adjusted, and look for any blue sparks around the spark plug wires and coil-to-distributor wires. if it looks like a christmas tree in there, spring for a set of the Bougicord brand spark plug wires, as sold by ipdusa.com or fcpeuro.com, these are the closest thing to the exact OEM speced wires. the Bosch wire sets sold in autoparts stores are junk nowdays

 

Mr. Pierce,

You my friend are a genius! I did as you suggested and found a dark place to inspect the spark plug and coil wires. I could practically read a book by the illumination! I replaced all wires with Bougicord wires, Bosch rotor and distributor cap. Also, a set of Bosch Platinum+ spark plugs. It runs great now!

Thanks for the advise. I really appreciate it.