Chrysler Repair: engine revs high, chrysler lebaron, 1989 chrysler lebaron

Question
I have a 1989 Chrysler LeBaron Coupe. 2.2 Turbo automatic. It revs high. About 3000 rpm. Any Ideas would be appreciated. Thanks

Keith Ashley

Answer
Hi Keith,
A couple of possibilities:
1. The automatic idle speed motor which you can evaluate by seeing if the engine controller has sensed a problem with it (a fault) and thus recorded a fault code in its memory.
2. An air leak into the intake manifold thru one of the many vacuum hoses attached to it having come loose or cracked. The engine controller will often compensate for such a leak by enriching the mixture so as to sustain the "idle" but now it will be at a much higher rpm. For this you will need to examine all the hoses that are in any way connected to the manifold (use the emission control drawing posted on the underside of the hood as a schematic to identify all the hoses).
To readout the controller just take your ignition switch and turn it as follows: "on-off-on-off-on" and leave it "on", doing this switching action in a time period of no more than 5 seconds. Then direct your attention to the "power loss" light on the dash which will begin to flash, pause, flash, pause, flash, etc. where there can be anywhere from 1 to 9 flashes before it pauses. Count the flashes before each pause and have a friend write down the number so you can keep your eye on the light so as to get an accurate count. The last two sets of flashes will always be 5 in each. Then you take the flash count in the order of readout and group them 2 at a time to form two digit numbers which are the fault codes. The last such number will be 55 which is the code of "end of readout". Repeat the process as often as you like until you are sure you have an accurate count. Then write me back with the result, or go to www.allpar.com/fix/codes.html where you can get the translation for the codes. But the codes are just an indication of what has been observed, not exactly what to do about it. So you will probably want some suggestions from me; feel free to ask again. If there is an electrical fault with the idle speed motor it will cause a code 25.
Roland
P.S. I have an '89 Coupe also, but with a 2.5L non-turbo.
It is a great car! Twilight Blue/Radiant silver