CHRYSLER LEBARON INFORMATION

Information on my Chrysler LeBaron.

SPECS
Year: 1983

Model: Chrysler LeBaron 4 Door

Engine: 2.6L Mistubishi 4cyl

Kms: 210,000 total; 70,000 on rebuilt engine

Features: FWD, Automatic Transmission, A/C, Electronic Voice Message Center and Sensory Alert System, AM Radio, Power Steering, Power Brakes, Cruise Control, Front Bucket Seats.

HISTORY
This car was previously owned by my Grandfather for 8 years when he bought it new. It spent much of its time in a garage in those 8 years. My family received the car with only 14,000 orignal kms on it. The paint and interior looked brand new with no rust. My family used it for transportation. In 1996, with 140,000 kms on the car, the lower half of the engine block became damaged and needed to be replaced. We replaced the engine with a factory rebuild.

MAINTENANCE
The first thing to go on this car was the air conditioner and timing belt. The belt was replaced, but the A/C was too expensive to replace so we no longer have the luxury of having our windows closed in a 35'C weather. The lack of the A/C cause a problem with the engine fan. If the Ignition switch wasn't turned at the right point, the engine fan wouldn't turn on and the engine would overheat. To check if the engine fan was on, we had to turn the heating fan switch. If this didn't go on, we had to jiggle the ignition switch untill it came on. This problem has since been fixed and is no longer a problem. The next major thing to go was the engine in 1996. We had it replace with a factory rebuild. This newer engine seems to have the same problems as the original only more frequent. We have had problems with burning oil and leaky valve heads. There is also a problem with the exaust system. When the car is turned on, it begins to leak some of the burnt fuel into the cabin as carbon monoxyide. I was pulled over by a police officer on a motorcycle (and no, it wasn't Eric Estrada!) who told me that he could hear the exaust under the cabin of the car and that it could be dangerous. He also told me to get it checked out and replaced - no ticket for me.

OPINIONS
As family transportation, the LeBaron has served us well. The seats are really comfortalble, the trunk is large, and it gets good gas mileage; As a first car for a teenage driver, this car has a lot to be desired. The engine is carburated, not fuel injected. This means a loss in potential hp. I would guess this car has just under 100hp. My LeBaron also has a vinyl roof and tons of crome - it looks like a retired couples car. The AM Radio and dash-mounted speakers makes for quiet listening and poor music selections. In Kamloops, I have a choice between country music and oldies - not my kind of music. The radio does pick up Vernon stations which play my kinds of music, but in some areas of Kamloops I can barely pick them up. Accelerating in this FWD automatic car isn't bad until the car reaches 80km/h; then its slow going. I have driven this car to the point where the needle was stuck at its max 140km/h while the car still accelerated. I am not sure what its top speed is.