Two 87s
New member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2003
- Location
- Lexington, KY
I have a very frustrating '84 240 DL that I'm dealing with. The main problem is that it cuts out while driving. For instance, earlier today, it was driving fine for a while, and then it wouldn't rev above 3000 rpms very easily, so it was gutless. It's a manual, and I put it in neutral, but it refused to rev up very well. I limped on towards home. As I neared home, it cut out completely and died. When this happens, as it has before, it seems to simply lose all electrical power. It will then restart if I turn the key off and then back on.
Another odd problem involves the reverse lights. The fuse for those lights blows when the car is turned on. However, if the power is turned on, but the car isn't turned over, the reverse light fuse will not blow, and the reverse lights work. It only blows if I turn the car on.
The overdrive fuse will also blow, but my overdrive doesn't work anyway.
Recent work includes a clutch job that I did myself. The reverse lights and overdrive both got plugged back in correctly. I replaced the rear main seal as well. I screwed that job up, and had to have a shop go back in and do the rear main seal again. The reverse light problem has remained constant after both my repairs and theirs.
This car has an aftermarket head unit, but I don't believe it to be miswired. It also has wiring for a subwoofer and amp, but the sub and amp are not installed. The power wire and ground for that are taped on the ends, and not contacting anything in the truck, nor do I think that the thick insulation on the power wire rubbed through anywhere and is contacting the body. However, I mention those things in the spirit of full disclosure.
Also, although it hasn't done it recently, I had times where the ticking chime for the turn signal lever would stay on, even after the turn signal itself clicked off.
The engine ground strap is in good condition.
A few months back, I got what I thought to be bad gas. I added a lot of fuel treatment to this car and the other car that suffered. I ended up also having to replace a cap, rotor and plugs on this car. The rotor was completely toasted.
This is a very annoying problem, and I'm afraid that it all adds up to one seriously electrically malfunctioning car. However, I am hoping that someone will say "Dude, it's just a bad battery." or "Son, you need to replace that alternator ASAP."
Any guesses? If this crap doesn't fix itself, or lend itself to an easy fix by me, I may simply get a different car. Tracking down extensive electrical gremlins doesn't appeal to me.
Aaron
Another odd problem involves the reverse lights. The fuse for those lights blows when the car is turned on. However, if the power is turned on, but the car isn't turned over, the reverse light fuse will not blow, and the reverse lights work. It only blows if I turn the car on.
The overdrive fuse will also blow, but my overdrive doesn't work anyway.
Recent work includes a clutch job that I did myself. The reverse lights and overdrive both got plugged back in correctly. I replaced the rear main seal as well. I screwed that job up, and had to have a shop go back in and do the rear main seal again. The reverse light problem has remained constant after both my repairs and theirs.
This car has an aftermarket head unit, but I don't believe it to be miswired. It also has wiring for a subwoofer and amp, but the sub and amp are not installed. The power wire and ground for that are taped on the ends, and not contacting anything in the truck, nor do I think that the thick insulation on the power wire rubbed through anywhere and is contacting the body. However, I mention those things in the spirit of full disclosure.
Also, although it hasn't done it recently, I had times where the ticking chime for the turn signal lever would stay on, even after the turn signal itself clicked off.
The engine ground strap is in good condition.
A few months back, I got what I thought to be bad gas. I added a lot of fuel treatment to this car and the other car that suffered. I ended up also having to replace a cap, rotor and plugs on this car. The rotor was completely toasted.
This is a very annoying problem, and I'm afraid that it all adds up to one seriously electrically malfunctioning car. However, I am hoping that someone will say "Dude, it's just a bad battery." or "Son, you need to replace that alternator ASAP."
Any guesses? If this crap doesn't fix itself, or lend itself to an easy fix by me, I may simply get a different car. Tracking down extensive electrical gremlins doesn't appeal to me.
Aaron