Well, I made the wise decision to drive my 1986 Chrysler LeBaron Wagon into Mexico. Bad idea.
As I was stuck for five freaken hours to go one freaken mile last night to get back into the United States, my car had
an issue.
The temperature gauge came dangerously close to the top. My car was stuck for four hours at idle, lost 4 gallons of gas, and
I did everything I could to keep the temp down. I ran the a.c., then the heater, then put in neutral, and finally turned off the
car near the border and pushed it to give it time to cool down.
I just had a new headgasket, and a new head put on.
At idle, the temperature gauge would not come down like it normally would when the fan came on and the thermostat opened. In fact, the fan was
running non-stop and the needle basically just stayed above 2/3rds, and would slowly creep towards the top. Twice, I got nervous, and the third time
is the charm the needle starting slowly inching to the red. I shut it off before I could find out.
What is wrong with these Chrysler 2.5s? They all do the same blasted thing. The needle doesn't stay at half, but it comes up to 2/3rds, and then comes
down to half. This wagon was having the needle come almost up to the top, and then down to 2/3rds, now it isn't even doing that. As long as I drive
at 35 or more, the needle will stay below half and do fine. My first indication of a problem should have been the night before I left for Mexico, when the gauge
dropped like a rock then minute I accelerated onto the freeway.
HELP!