New Car-- 89 5 speed LeBaron Turbo... just won't start!

[jenkins71]

Hey Guys,
So yesterday I bought a low-mileage, 1989 LeBaron convertible with a 5 speed. He says it's a 2.5, but I'm not sure how to tell if its a 2.5 or a 2.2. Got it for $400 because the owner said as he was pulling onto his street, it stalled out and wouldn't start. He isn't mechanically inclined, and wanted to get a truck anyway, so he sold it to me for cheap. He says he checked for spark with his buddy, and there was none. I haven't checked it out, but I assume it must be something simple. I did hear him turn the engine over before I bought and it sounded fine. So I bought it, and towed it home. Here are some pics.







Now, I already have a running 2.2 88 Lebaron. It's an auto, and its awesome, but then I found this 5 speed which is what I REALLY want. So, the beauty is that hopefully most of the ignition, etc, components I can swap off the running 88 onto the dead 89 and simplify the diagnostic process.

So, my questions are:
1. Any clues about no-spark condition?
2. Any idea if this is a 2.5 or 2.2?
3. The hidden headlights don't close. Anyone have any experience getting them to work?
4. The guy says that the turbo wasn't working. Said the "turbo needs a rebuild." Huh? Can you rebuild turbos? I am new to turbos, but not to cars. I'm an old-school mopar guy.

Thanks!

[ajakeski]

Check the Hall Effect Sensor in the distributor. That's the most common failure on these engines.

If it's good, then check the ASD relay.

it's an 89 Turbo I engine (not intercooled) so it's a 2.5 unless someone canged it. Look at the vacuum routing decal on the hood, it will state the engine size. You can run the VIN through one of the many free VIN decoders online. http://www.vindecoder.net

Your car should have a Mitsubishi Turbo. They can be rebuilt, or you can buy a rebuild from FWD Performance or Turbos Unleashed. Both are vendors here.

Headlights could be a bad motor, or a bad headlight controller or bad body controller. I'm not sure what that car had in 1989.

Essential reading for new 2.2 / 2.5 Turbo owners:

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/22t.html

http://www.thedodgegarage.com/turbo.html

Join your local SDAC Chapter. You'll meet a lot of people who can help you out. We're not snobs like some of the traditional muscle car people.

http://www.sdac.org

[GLHS60]

1: Possible timing belt. Distributor seems to be at an odd angle indication someone was in there before.

2: 2.5, 1989 2.2's were intercooled.

4: Mostly the wastegate actuator arm disconnects from the wastegate lever do to the clip rusting off, result no/very little boost.

Nice score!!!

Thanks
Randy

[Vigo]

Those seats look really good..

[jenkins71]

Awesome info, thanks very much guys.

I will take the distributor pickup out of my running 88 lebaron and pop it in (assuming they are interchangeable).
Ok cool, so looks like I have a 2.5 on my hands. Sweet.

As for the turbo, I'll look around and see what's doing back there. Is it common for a turbo to go out? What are the chances you think, that I need to buy a new one?

And yeah, the seats are awesome!!!! Like new!

Sam

[ajakeski]

The turbo HEP doesn't interchange with the non turbo. Turbo has two plugs, one for spark timing, one for fuel.

Check the wastegate arm as stated above.

Turbos go bad from poor oiling or over boosting (spinning faster than recommended) Look for lots of oil in the intake after the turbo.

Remove the air intake hose form the turbo and spin it by hand. Feel for free movement when spinning and check for excessive play in and out as well as for up and down. If the compressor wheel hits the housing, it's most likely done and needs to be replaced.

[jenkins71]

The turbo HEP doesn't interchange with the non turbo. Turbo has two plugs, one for spark timing, one for fuel.

Check the wastegate arm as stated above.

Turbos go bad from poor oiling or over boosting (spinning faster than recommended) Look for lots of oil in the intake after the turbo.

Remove the air intake hose form the turbo and spin it by hand. Feel for free movement when spinning and check for excessive play in and out as well as for up and down. If the compressor wheel hits the housing, it's most likely done and needs to be replaced.

Thanks dude. You're awesome. I'll check out that turbo as soon as i can. Both cars are turbo BTW.

Ok, so I got out there today with the wrenches. I lined up both Lebarons and figured I would start with swapping the Hall Effect sensor as well as the distributor cap and wires.



Cranked it.... no dice. Hmmm. Then I tried the coil, easy enought. Nah, nothing. Bummer! Then I figured I'd take a peek at the timing belt. I took off the top half of the cover, and had my buddy run the key. NO MOVEMENT!!!!!! This belt was TOAST!!!!

So I set about removing it, following my manual for the 88. I pretty much got it all off, except I can't figure out how to get the belt past the motor mount, which is on the inside of the belt's loop. My 88 has different motor mounts than my 89, which has a little mini shock absorber attached. Any ideas on how to get past it? Or anyone with an 89 shop manual able to post some pics of the belt removal/install pages? Thanks!!!

I'm excited!!! Just ordered a new timing belt, new alt/water pump belt, new upper hose, along with new shocks for this little bad boy. It's gonna be sick!!!

[RattFink]

Looks like you got a good deal! I think I saw this up on craigslist lately? To remove the belt, you need to support the engine and remove that engine mount.

[jenkins71]

Yeah I'm thinking I have to remove the A/C bracket too as per this allpar article: http://www.allpar.com/fix/timing-belt-22.html

Yeah the LeBaron was on CL for a while, for $1500. I have been eyeing it for ages, it being a 2.5 turbo with 5 speed. Finally I saw he relisted, and I called, and he told me that it died on him and he was going to bring it way down in price. So I guess I lucked out!

I'm worried I moved my motor around a lot when I had the mounts off. Am I going to need to realign this bad boy?

Thanks DUDES!

[jenkins71]

Got it running earlier today! Replaced the timing belt and she first right up and purrs like a kitten. I even took her around the block!!

Now to figure out that damn turbo!!!

[Force Fed Mopar]

Does that odometer really say 19k miles?!?!

[jenkins71]

It's does, but the gears inside broke, so who knows. Judging by the cleanliness under the hood and the interior, and the paint, it's probably pretty low. i think the timing belt I just relaxed was original to the car. It had a Mopar star on it and the cover seemed undisturbed.

[GLHS60]

For anyone interested, beginning in 1988 the mileage was recorded in the SMEC, and can be retrieved with a DRB II.

Later, some models did not. Deisel trucks, Neon, PT, probably others.

Thanks
Randy

[cordes]

For anyone interested, beginning in 1988 the mileage was recorded in the SMEC, and can be retrieved with a DRB II.

Later, some models did not. Deisel trucks, Neon, PT, probably others.

Thanks
Randy

I did not know that. What an interesting thing to know. Who needs a functional odometer anymore?

[2.216VTurbo]

I did not know that. What an interesting thing to know. Who needs a functional odometer anymore?

Everybody with a GLH or a GLHS...

[cordes]

Everybody with a GLH or a GLHS...

I'm now listing this as a reason to convert to SMEC or later electronics. Finally I have a good one.