Questions and Answers

Chrysler Lebaron Overheating? Q. Vince: I have a 1987 Chrysler Lebaron, 2.5 litre, automatic transmission, 175,000 miles, fuel injected with A/C. I checked every question on your web site to see if I could find an answer to my problem without success. When I first start the car, everything is fine for the first 10-12 minutes. The temperature gauge is at normal.

At that time the temperature gauge starts to climb and goes all the way to hot and the red light comes on. It stays on for about one second and then everything goes back to normal. After that, everything is fine and I could drive it forever without any problems. I have changed the thermostat (twice) and it does not change anything. Everything else is fine, heat etc. HELP!!!!!!

Many thanks,
Dave
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

A. Usually the cause of this is the thermostat sticking closed until it gets so hot it snaps open and then coolant can flow to the radiator. Or, the thermostat is in backwards.

So I still suspect the thermostat. If you bought the two thermostats at the same place and got the same brand, it is possible you got defective thermostats. I would try one from a Chrysler dealer to eliminate, for sure, the thermostat.

Another possibility is the fins inside the water pump are slipping on the shaft. Rare, but it does happen.