1988 Chrysler Le Baron Car kills at idle

Tiny
TSIM
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 CHRYSLER LE BARON
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 55,000 MILES
Hi. Well my mechanic said this was the only car in 20 years he could not repair. I'm hoping it's something so simple that he is just overlooking the problem. The car started rough idle at red lights or in traffic and progressively got worst. It now will not stay started, unless you keep the engine revved at about 2000 rpm.
Something strange he found while working on the car was that if you disconnect the alternator from the battery the car will run smooth at idle. As soon as you plug in the alternator the car will kill. Alternator was changed and did not fix the problem. With the car running at 2000rpm and the alternator plugged in, I checked the voltage on the battery and it is 13.7 volts. It seems the charging circuit is working properly, right? With the car running on just the battery the voltage is 12.3 volts. Why would plugging in the alternator kill the car? He also changed the computer just as a last resort and it still did not correct the problem. Thanks in advance.
Sunday, May 4th, 2008 AT 1:05 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
Z02SDBRADLEY
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I'm having a very similar problem with my 88 Lebaron, and was wondering if you had resolved this issue. Mine will start and will continue to run if I rev the gas, as soon as I let up, it stops running.
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Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008 AT 10:22 AM
Tiny
RYANCOXPG
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Have you changed the battery
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Wednesday, October 29th, 2008 AT 10:34 PM
Tiny
SHAMMROCK
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I have the same problem with my 88' lebaron but my car will also begin to skip after it warms up when I reach around 47mph. I have put on a new cap, rotor button, fuel filter, plugs, plug wires, and have run fuel system cleaner through it a few times all with no change.
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Saturday, November 29th, 2008 AT 12:16 PM
Tiny
RYANCOXPG
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Try taking apart your throttle body and cleaning the throttle positioning sensor and your idle air control valve as well with some good heavy strength intake cleaner/throttle body cleaner
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Saturday, November 29th, 2008 AT 2:05 PM

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