1993 Chrysler Le Baron A few problems

Tiny
RANGER812572
  • MEMBER
  • 1993 CHRYSLER LE BARON
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 184,000 MILES
Here is a brief history. I bought this car for $125.00. It needed a timing belt and a few body related items. Got the timing belt installed, and she fired right up. I have been driving the car for a bit.

I notice that at a stop the idle will usually sit at about 500 RPM, but somtimes itll go down as low as like 250. The engine doesnt stall and the check engine or check gauges light never comes on. But the car does run a bit rougher. Could my problem be a weak coil? I have adjusted the timing and no change.

Also, the oil pressure when you first start the car is about where it should be, but as the car warms up the oil pressure goes down to the last line on the 1/4 point instead of being at 3/4 when you first start it. If you get on the freeway with it itll gradually get higher, but the moment you take the exit ramp, its back down to 1/4 or just below. Bad gauge or sending unit? It may leak or burn a little bit of oil.

Also my cooing system: I am not sure exactly what is going on with this. It stays at the bottom line and when it heats up to the 1/4 point I see steam coming out the hood. The gauge willl go farther up if you dont turn the heater on. And the heat isnt always that hot. I was thinking water pump (heater core isnt the problem) but if you jam on the gas and get the motor up in RPMs it should lower the temp. I waited until the car was cool and opened the radiator. It appears that its just water in the system. Could that be my problem?
Friday, June 26th, 2009 AT 5:17 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
OK lets get some more history if you would. So tell me how long has the car sat before you got it? Have you changed the oil yet? Just so you know mashing the gas pedal down does not cool a car down. Was the radiator low when you checked it? Have you changed the fuel filter? Get back to me with some more info and we will take it from there.
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Friday, June 26th, 2009 AT 10:23 AM
Tiny
RANGER812572
  • MEMBER
  • 52 POSTS
I bought the car and it had been sitting about a month. I have changed the oil filter and the oil pressure problem actually seemed to get a little worse. When I originally checked the radiator it was a little bit low, and I added some coolant. I changed the coolant today and put a 50/50 mix in it. It seems to do ok. But when the car heats up to a little more than warm and you take off from a stop, you get gray smoke coming out the tailpipe. I parked the car in my driveway waited until it got warm and from under the hood manually revved the engine. The smoke came out, and I promptly went to the back of the car and smelled it. Its burning oil. But it only does it when the car is really warm. I was wondering on a head gasket, but I am not sure because the oil doesnt have the cream color to it.

I have not changed the fuel filter, but have the filter to do it. I'll try that tomorrow.

Hope that information helps.
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Friday, June 26th, 2009 AT 9:38 PM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Ok you changed the oil filter but how about the oil itself did you change the oil? If not then change it and put 10w30 in it and buy a bottle of lucas oil stabilizer and substitute the lucas for one bottle of oil. Now have you changed the fuel filter? I need answers so I can be of accurate help.
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Saturday, June 27th, 2009 AT 8:51 AM

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