Expert: Roland Finston - 9/29/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello Roland,
Any help would be much appreciated. My son's Lebaron ran well until his timing belt snapped. We had it replaced along with the distributor cap,rotor, all plugs going to cap, all belts, motor mount. Have found that the vacuum hoses are rotted, so we are replacing them too. The car is stalling and will not keep running. It starts but then stalls. It has been timed correctly, because we had this checked, but it continues to stall. Any suggestions as to what could be happening?

ANSWER: Hi Diane,
You didn't mention doing a check for fault codes using the ignition key:"on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then watch the check engine light, which remains 'on', to see it  begin to flash, pause, flash, etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause. Then repeat the process to be sure you have an accurate set of flash counts. Then send me a follow-up question telling me the flash counts and we'll go from there.
If the rotted vacuum hoses have not all been replaced as yet then that may well explain the inability of the engine to idle because of too lean a mixture what with all the 'tramp' air such a leak would allow to enter the combustion chambers. Make sure to follow the vacuum hose diagram on the underside of the hood to find them all. If you don't have the diagram let me know and I can xerox and postal mail you a copy. There were 2 turbo engines that year, so tell me the letter that appears in the 8th position of the VIN.
Roland

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I would appreciate it if I could get the diagram. Also the 8th number in the vin is E.


Thank you,
Diane

Answer
Hi Diane,
Then it is a Turbo II, but I will send that and the Turbo I too. I need to know a postal mailing address to which to send the drawings. If you would like to send a private communication then ask a new question, click on the "keep question private" box, and then enter the address in the text section of the question. Thanks for the kind words and nomination.
Roland