740 16v GLT stuck at 1000rpm

my 740 (auto) rev problem is similar-but-different to brickowner's elsewhere on this page: it starts easily and runs perfectly on tickover, but as you move off, at about 1000rpm it gives every appearance of having a lumpy single-cylinder engine! We've done the easy bits - replaced distributor cap and rotor, checked both fuel pumps, swapped the mass flow whatsit, all to no effect. It's so expensive to get the ecu checked, and so expensive to replace if found faulty I bought a 940 instead - but the 740 is a good 'un and I would like to get it back on the road as a spare or maybe sold. Anyone had identical experience? Any ideas? Chris

Mine was uppity over the winter of 2006-2007, especially when the weather was cold or damp, when it would either not start for hours or would start and run fine for a bit then stumble and miss and conk out when pulling away. Turns out that the contact in the distributor end of the HT king lead (new in summer 2006...) was broken. A set of HT leads sorted things out eventually, but not before a desperate 'scatter-gun' attempt at fixing the problem by replacing various expensive injection system and ignition parts...

howdy...my first post...hi all. My 740GL had a very similar problem.The air duct from the air box to inlet manifold had collapsed and restricted the air flow.so it idled not too bad but as soon as you took off it starved for air .I was looking for all the complicated answers but it was a simple fix.

Thanks James, Pezz... I'll take a look this weekend and see if either sparks or air are missing.

I hope that you do get it sorted. It would be sad to see another 740 GLT consigned to the scrapyard, as there can't be many left nowadays.

1st port of call here is the distributor, then coil lead then HT leads i dare say you will find A or B to the be problem. on one of the limos i service, trying to get that to move was impossable, soon as you fliped into revers it chugged and practically stopped the engine.. fault.. coil lead and top earth strap next to the destributor