Just like going to the doctor, you really have to do a complete diagnosis to fix the problem. I'm not being demeaning, just stating a fact.

If you have no spark, you must determine why the ignition isn't working at that particular time before you try to fix it, else you tend to spend rather large sums of money and still have the problem. These cars will cost you a fortune that way.

Yes, your problem does sound similar, and Hans has ordered the pickup to replace it (temp sensors are already new). However, in your case I suspect the mixture is going way lean in closed loop -- but I don't know that, it must be tested (via EHA current or via the duty cycle). If the O2 sensor is bad, this is likely, but there are more things to go wrong that that. Vacuum leaks come to mind -- injector seals, manifold half seals, the boot between the throttle body and air flow meter, the boot between throttle body and manifold, door locks, idle control valve hoses, vacuum controls. Any air not going through the air flow meter will throw the mixture off.

Bad fuel distributors are a common problem, and depending on the source of a "new" one (rebuilt, I'm sure unless you have DEEP pockets!) can be worse than the one you traded in. Stick with a warrented Bosch rebuild, some of the other sources send you distributors that don't work properly.

Next step for you is probably to find out what the fuel mixture and timing actually are -- if the tech can only measure "as best as possible" I (and probably no one else here) can do you much good unless we know why he couldn't do better -- ignition timing can be read directly from the diagnostics computer if he has one.

Intermittant spark is a real problem -- could be several things, some rather expensive, and you really need the computer diagnostics to tell, other than a flaky ignition switch.

I'd personally start with the O2 sensor signal and diagnostics, then mixture, then ignition unless the spark goes away, in which case you must determine the problem there first! Hard to diagnose anything else if it has no spark.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!