Chrysler Repair: 88 CHRYSLER LEBARON CONV, chrysler lebaron, engine controller

Question
I own a 88 chrysler lebaron convertable with a turbo engine. I just got this car as a gift two months ago so I don't know much about it.
I was driving my car yesturday and all of a sudden it froze up on me. I pushed on the gas and it would eccelerate, I pulled over and shut the car off and then it wouldn't turn over aian. Do you know what might be the problem? What should I look for?

Answer
Hi Beth,
There is some ambiguity in the terms "froze up" and "turn over". Do you mean the engine seized and will not rotate? Do you mean the engine lost power and stopped, died? And when you tried to start it, did the starter motor effectively turn the engine but it wouldn's start or that it wouldn't crank the engine at all?
I'll assume it just lost power and wouldn't restart but that the starter motor still works and the engine will rotate. Fortunately the engine computer has the ability for recognize faults with its operation. The most useful thing to do would be to try to get the fault codes that may stored in the engine controller memory to readout. Try using the ignition key: turn it "on-off-on-off-on" and leave it "on" (doing this quickly, no longer than 5 seconds). By "on" I mean just the normal position when the engine is running, not the cranking position. The 'check engine'light will remain on when you leave the key in the "on" position with the engine still not running. But then watch the 'check engine' light to begin flashing, then pause, flashing, pause, etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause and keep track of the numbers. Repeat the readout and verify the counts are correct. Then group them in pairs in the order that they came out, thus forming two digit numbers. You may notice that the pause is shorter between the digits of a given number, and longer between the numbers themselves. Then send me a 'follow-up' question telling me the results of your readout. By the way, 55 will be the last number (two groups of 5 flashes each) and that is the code for "end of readout".
I have the troubleshooting manual for several engines and we can look up the possibilities of what is wrong based upon what fault codes you show.
Roland