1983 Chrysler Imperial: starting problems
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1983 Chrysler Imperial: starting problems



Hi Guys-----Ther are no Basics on a 22 year old EFI system for which there
are no test inst---no new parts avail ---no way to test used parts----I am
74 yrs old and have worked on cars since I was 10 ---I love cars---I love my
3 Imps and will not sell them or take a sledge to them---I simply want to
make them as reliable as I can---Simple right?---With you in keeping the
IMPERIALS going   M.P.----- Original Message -----
From: <RandalPark@xxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2004 3:59 PM
Subject: Re: IML: 1983 Chrysler Imperial: starting problems


> Well, you may be right, and of course we are each entitled to our
opinions. If "the basics" would be a good place to start, it would be better
to start with a basic car. That word does not describe these particular
automobiles.
>
> Trouble shooting that car is going to cost a ton of money, and a firm
commitment of love on the part of the owner.  If the love isn't there, I
still say sell the car. The owner already knows if "love" is in the
equation. The rest is easy.
>
> Paul
>
> In a message dated 6/5/2004 2:07:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
nt014b6628@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
>
> >
> >
> > Whoa,
> >
> > I think that maybe we are getting ahead of ourselves here, two of the
> > recommendations include selling the car or ripping the EFI system off
and
> > putting a carb set-up on, i personally think this is a bit extreme when
the
> > basics have not been checked first.
> >
> > Joel says that the car came from William who i recall had some problems
with
> > his car, i do not know who did the repairs for William but lets not
assume
> > that
> > what was done is 100%, and that the only answer is to get a sledgehammer
to
> > crush
> > this poor starting nut.
> >
> > I think it would be fair for Joel's 83 (and his sanity) if we cover the
> > basics first, there
> > are many an IML member who enjoy their EFI powered cars, (myself and
Dick
> > Benjamin included) the rip it off and start again approach can have more
> > pitfalls than there is keeping an EFI powered car running.
> >
> > Neil 82 Imperial London, England.
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "michael popp" <popp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2004 3:59 AM
> > Subject: Re: IML: 1983 Chrysler Imperial: starting problems
> >
> >
> > > Joel---Don't panic---Your 83 is a beauty to behold ---Find a 80 Cry
> > cordoba
> > > without lean-burn --preferably a 4 barrel and put that set-up on your
83
> > > Imperial ---it will run better than ever -start every time and make
you
> > > smile----I did that to my 86 Ply first and am in process of doing my
82
> > > Imperial F S Ed---Feel free to contact me off-list at
> > > mailto:popp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Mike
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: <RandalPark@xxxxxxx>
> > > To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 7:05 PM
> > > Subject: Re: IML: 1983 Chrysler Imperial: starting problems
> > >
> > >
> > > > This was a frequent problem with early '80s, first generation
> > computerized
> > > cars. In most, the ignition and the fuel system are both computer
> > > controlled. There are a guzillion reasons why these cars either stop
> > running
> > > or won't start. In many cases, the trouble is intermittent and
difficult
> > to
> > > find. Many Auto Electric shops in the good old USA became very wealthy
> > > during the time that these cars were on the road. The sad part is,
most of
> > > them never really ever figured out what was wrong with the cars.
> > Eventually
> > > their owners became annoyed and sold them.
> > > > I hate to be so general here, but I know from experience that this
was
> > > universally true among the big three and most likely others too. My
newest
> > > Chrysler Product has always been my '68 Imperial. I have '80s
offerings
> > from
> > > each of the other major manufacturers, and have had occasional
problems
> > with
> > > both, although the G.M built cars have been much more reliable than
the
> > ones
> > > from Ford. I still run both of them on a daily basis.
> > > > When those Imperials were new, many people had exactly that kind of
> > > trouble with them. The cars will run perfectly, and for no apparent
> > reason,
> > > quit on the road or refuse to start. Over the years I have found that
the
> > > folks that were the most successful keeping those cars on the road
were
> > the
> > > ones who "loved them no matter what".
> > > > I have also found that reading the wiring diagrams and understanding
> > where
> > > relays and sensors (both vacuum and electronic) are, and understanding
> > what
> > > they do helps a lot. Relays with dirty contacts can cause an
intermittent
> > > problem for years before they actually quit working all together. This
is
> > > also true of sensors.
> > > > In summary, I would say that there probably is not one thing that
anyone
> > > here can tell you that will solve your problem. If you love the car,
you
> > > will become very accustomed to knowing under what condition your car
does
> > > certain things. Eventually you will be able to make sense out of that
> > > information, along with the things that you read and study to make a
good
> > > stab at finding the faulty part or parts. The other option would be to
pay
> > > someone else to do that, but I offer this: back during the time that
those
> > > cars were on the road there were few, if any mechanics that could
trouble
> > > shoot them. Most people just got taken to the cleaners, and still
couldn't
> > > depend on their cars to run when they were suppose to.
> > > > If you don't want to go through this process, I would suggest
selling
> > the
> > > car, or becoming a member of AAA Plus. If you can, buy extra towing.
> > > > Paul
> > > > In a message dated 6/4/2004 1:40:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> > > joelrsmith@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
> > > > > Hi Guys,> > I have a 1983 Chrysler Imperial that I purchased about
a
> > > month ago. It's in pretty decent condition, but does have some rust in
the
> > > rear left & right quarter panel & the bottom of the deck lid. It has
> > 130,000
> > > Miles on it (but there is an asterix beside where it says that, don't
know
> > > what that means) and gets from 15 - 20 US MPG on a tank.> > Right from
the
> > > beginning, whenever I would start it, it would crank over a bit more
than
> > > what I would expect a "normal" car to do, although I did hear from a
> > certain
> > > mechanic that due to it's older computer, that could be normal. It
always
> > > drives & idles nice though. Anyways, here's what happened: I drove my
car
> > to
> > > work friday morning (7:30 am), and it did it's usual "longer than
normal"
> > > start, all was good. It sat all day at work in about say 20 C (68 F)
> > > temperature. I finished work around 5:00 pm and went to start my car.
The
> > > first try I held the key in the "start" position for about 6 - 8
seconds,
> > it
> > > just cranked, didn't fire once. This was kind of surprising, as it had
> > never
> > > done this before. So I tried it again, nothing. After that, i tried
> > pumping
> > > the gas pedal (I usually NEVER touch the gas pedal at all before or
during
> > > starting) while I was cranking it, it actually fired one or two times
but
> > > didn't start. Next, I pulled off the air cleaner cover, & I could
smell
> > > as( but it didn't appear flooded), so I left the cover off for a
minute or
> > > two, then put it back on and tried again. Nothing. > > So after that I
> > went
> > > back inside to where I work & called AMA to send over a tow truck.
Next
> > >  about 30 mins had passed since I had last tried starting the car) I
went
> > > outside again to see if I could start the car. I put the key in and
> > cranked
> > > it...it didn't fire for a sec or two, but then caught a few times &
> > started.
> > > For the first few seconds it ran rough, like it had too much / too
little
> > > fuel, but after that it smoothed out and idled like it has always had
> > before
> > > (it idles nice btw). So now i'm a little scared about something like
this
> > > happening again (i've been driving it for about 4 days since then and
it's
> > > always started). Now would any of you guys have any idea what the
problem
> > > could be and what I can do to fix it? I'm also interested in why it
seems
> > to
> > > need a few excessive cranks to start. > > Oh, and you can check out
> > pictures
> > > of my car here: > http://www3.telus.net/agentsmith> > Thanks in
advance.>
> > >
> > > Joel Smith> Edmonton, Alberta.> > > > > Join Excite! -
> > > http://www.excite.com> The most personalized portal on the Web!
> > > �������������m����
> > >
> >
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> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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