360GLT EFI Trouble

Post by **Maestro** » 30 Apr 2006 02:56 pm

Hey all. Day before yesterday I bought myself a 360GLT because I liked it (which is a good enough reason in my mind, so long as I can afford it). In a shocking display of luck, the police pulled me over on the way home and gave me a work order for one of my taillights being out. Hurray.

Anyway, I then drove it around for another day and a half before something started playing up. I was driving at a regular pace when it abruptly began running extremely roughly, and stalled when I had to stop at a roundabout. A moment later I got it started again (though not before annoying a goodly number of my fellow motorists - getting the Volvo driver image happening already) and it ran fine for about a minute or two before repeating the rough running act. I pulled into a parking area to see it stall as soon as I took the load off of it.

On experimentation, it was following this basic procedure of running reasonably then going very rough and stalling. After a while of poking bits of my motor I realised that I wasn't going to get anything done here so I took some back streets home (probably only stalling my engine forty times in the process). The car was also backfiring occasionally, which it wasn't exactly prone to before.

This sounded like a fuel pump or filter to me, so I pulled the filter off, tapped it a couple of times and tried again. Now the car won't even start and idle for a while, it just dies pretty much instantly even if it does manage to start.

Any advice? I'm thinking I need a new filter, but is there anything else it could be?

(Yes, I also know I should get a service manual. Looking into that now...)

Post by **djbolf** » 30 Apr 2006 03:25 pm

basic things , check for fuel , check for spark

then come back to us

Post by **IvanAE86** » 30 Apr 2006 03:28 pm

Sounds like fuel starvation to me too...but I'm not completely sure.. Might be gunk in the fueltank clogging stuff up, or a fuelpump going bad. I cant really place the backfire in this picture though, might be a good idea to check the insides of your distributor while your at it..

Post by **D4V2K1** » 30 Apr 2006 03:59 pm

Sounds a little like the trouble i had a few weeks ago. Take a read of this:

http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... php?t=2839

Post by **RandomHero** » 30 Apr 2006 04:18 pm

Possible fuel problem, could be the pump or a clogging in the filter.....But something tells me it's an easy problem. Try adjusting the throttle butterfly and the throttle switch! I hope you have a manual?

The reason i think it's the throttle butterfly is because it sounds to me like it's dying on a lack of air. The shaking can be caused by a faulty adjusted switch. I hope it works!

But it's not a bad idea to check the ignition and fuel system either way. You should the fuel pump relay too.

Website · Post by **antiekeradio** » 30 Apr 2006 04:56 pm

such settings normally do not 'misadjust' themselves all of a sudden...

Post by **Maestro** » 01 May 2006 11:51 am

Ok, I've done some checking and when I trigger the starter, I do get some fuel flow. I also get spark, though I haven't checked all the plugs. As it stands now, the engine turns over, but I don't hear any firing. There's no noticeable response to throttle either in terms of rpm or sound. Certainly it's not going to start any more.

I'm running out of ideas now, any guesses? How can I check that throttle butterfly and switch? (Still no service manual yet, it's coming...) A lack of air could explain it not starting...

Website · Post by **antiekeradio** » 01 May 2006 12:04 pm

'some' fuel flow?

would think it's supposed to give a strong flow, as the fuel rail is to be pressurized at a number of BARs pressure....

just a trickle won't do the job...

Post by **Maestro** » 01 May 2006 12:08 pm

I was working on my own so I couldn't see how much in marvellous detail. I'd say it was flowing ok, but I don't have much experience to go on, I'm afraid.

Post by **pettaw** » 01 May 2006 02:23 pm

OK I'm assuming you've checked the spark is all OK from the coil and dizzy cap. If so, I bet this is the same as what happened to me when I first got my GLT, old and stale fuel, causing fouling of the plugs. Then once the plugs are fouled the EFI system just injects more and more and more fuel and there's no hope.

First of all get a few litres of fresh fuel and tip that into the tank. Take all the plugs out and give them a really good clean of the electrodes and if they're dripping wet with fuel, dry them out thoroughly. To give the engine a little help, put them in a low oven for about 10 minutes after you've cleaned them up and to help finish off the drying process. Then whilst they're drying out, take the fuel pump relay out to disable the fuelling and crank the engine over holding the throttle wide open.

Then reassemble and try to start the car as normal. If it doesn't fire straight away then again, foot hard down on the throttle. If, after doing all this it still doesn't go and you're sure that everything else is OK and you've got fresh fuel in there then buy a new set of plugs and put them in.

Hope that helps.

Post by **foggyjames** » 01 May 2006 07:08 pm

If there's not even the slightest hint of firing, you've usually either got no fuel (no comments guys!) or no spark. Spark is fairly easy to trace back (as described), and it sounds like you're getting some fuel. Invariably, even if the fuel supply is very weak, you'll hear it 'try' to fire.

360s are supremely reliable as a rule of thumb, so don't lose heart.

cheers

James

Post by **RandomHero** » 01 May 2006 10:27 pm

Oh wait, try to check the fuel pump's fuse. It's next to the battery in a small black box. Although you say there is 'some fuel flow' this is a common problem with 360's not starting and not being able to find the problem.

There's also another cause i know of. Underneath the big fuse box, so in the cars interior. For an English car that's above the pedals. There are 3 big plugs with a lot of wires. Try to check if they are tightened well.