My 1988 ageing Volvo 340GL Automatic

Hi,
Anyone out there that can throw some light on my problem.
My Volvo has been as good as gold until now.
When driving now and again it loses power...as i am driving along for example at 70 it starts to slow down 60, 50, 40 etc. I pull over and turn off the engine and after about 15 minute it starts again and is fine.
It has happened 3 times over the last three weeks.
It is a mystery because it happens now and again.
On all three occasions it was night time, and on two out of the three occasions it was raining. And two out of the three occasions i had put some petrol in at the garage before setting off, on these two occasions it started misbehaving after an approx distance of 25 to 30 miles.
The fuel pump filter is fine, carburettor filter fine, distributor cap and rotor are ok.

I would welcome any suggestions other than the scrap dealer!!

It is really a great car to drive when its running normally and has no trouble doing 95mph now and again!!

Can anyone help me!!

Cheers Sandie

[pettaw]

There was a previous post just like this 'My volvo won't go over 50mph help!' I've listed a few things there and he found the eventual solution himself,

Hiya,
just like to say check ' Volvo 340 won't go over 50mph ...help !' , as "Pettaw" said, He helped me with this one by throwing some suggestions, and although overlooking some simple things...eventually found the problem was the top of the carberettar, just under the air filter.
hope you find some of the suggestions there helpful !

must admit this is a great forum for help when you need it, hope it keeps going.

thanks

Bev & mart

Have a 1989 auto matic. as suggested by another helper I eventually had my carburettor seen to and worked fine -touch wood. I had your problem that got worse and worse until one day it just died. The rescue mechanic said my carb had shaken itself to bits. If it is a Renault 1.4 engine then I was told this is a common problem. Hope of some use.
Brian Burrows

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the help and guidance.

My Husband has looked at the car for me today and he has checked the carb jets (2 were loose). He did notice that there was not a lot of petrol in the float chamber so reset the float.

He checked the plugs.

Some people have told me that it is fuel pump trouble but the filter is clear and clean and petrol is spurting out.

Yes it is a Renault 1.4 engine so it rather looks like this could be my problem.

I must admit that the car is old but i have really not had any trouble until now.

So rather looks like i will have to start saving my pennies for a new carb!!!!

Cheers

Sandie

Hi Brian,
Thanks for the help and guidance.

My Husband has looked at the car for me today and he has checked the carb jets (2 were loose). He did notice that there was not a lot of petrol in the float chamber so reset the float.

He checked the plugs.

Some people have told me that it is fuel pump trouble but the filter is clear and clean and petrol is spurting out.

Yes it is a Renault 1.4 engine so it rather looks like this could be my problem.

I must admit that the car is old but i have really not had any trouble until now.

So rather looks like i will have to start saving my pennies for a new carb!!!!

Cheers

Sandie

Can usually get a reconditioned carb for around £80 up in my part of the world. It costa as much to rebuild your old one as I found when I took it to a Volvo mechanic and it only worked for a couple of months. The reconditioned one has been much better.