Hey guys'n'gals,
My LeBaron has been a heck of a super dependable and reliable ride since 2018. Never died on me or left me stranded for more than 15k miles for the last 6 years.
But now, there are issues.
First. Yesterday I wanted to pick up the LeBaron to drive to my Mom (in hospital ATM) with my wife. Go to storage, turn key, wait for fuel to arrive at carb and run. That was my expection.
But, no run. And no time to diagnose (first: Mom at hospital). Later I re-checked and hat a strong, blue spark. Good. But no fuel in Carb. Not good. Likely culprit: fuel pump (hoses + filter have been replaced last year, they cracked with only like 4 years old...).
This morning, early, because again Mom at the hospital and a local meet nearby I just linked a electric fuel pump instead of the mechanical, hooked the wires & hoses - turn key and run. Very good.
Ran just fine to the hospital and the meet (we had like 93F today), no heat issues, no run issues, all good and perfect. Even long wait-in-line, no problem. As usual
On my return trip, the engine started perfectly, idled well and ran good on the first like 4 miles. Then, from a dead stop I had to turn left. Did that, it accelerated fine (no race start; well, that's impossible anyway ) but just a couple 100 yards on the road it kind of stumbled, hesitated, no power, it felt like not enough fuel. So, while on the road (no emergency stop possible), turn in neutral, try a couple shots of gas. Dead. Engine just died. Luckily, while still rolling and me seeking a spot to park (still none), I tried to start it again. Turn key - it came immediately to life, no stumble, hesitation - just fine.
While I was driving kind of careful, listening to anything abnormal (none) it ran just fine. Until I did it again: Dead stop, start with a left turn. Stumble, Hesitation, Died. Again, neutral, start, ran.
SO. To come home I tried to figure a way home with only right turns, no left turns. I had to more left turns and was anxious, if I'd be the culprit of the next big traffic jam in city (only one lane, no side of the road space). But going very slowly through the left turns I managed to safely arrive home.
NOW, I'm kind of at a loss about what this could be.
First thing, I'll re-check the ignition, to rule this out. On the road I quick-checked some connectors (e.g. new fuel pump), which are fine and not moving. Then I'll check the carb (a Edelbrock 1406, it's a 4bbl 318 in it, with just 62k miles on it).
Any ideas? Suggestions?
Oh, and pictures of the meeting are here Car Meetings / 2026 08 Straßenbahnmuseum Wehmingen | gecius.de Gallery
My LeBaron has been a heck of a super dependable and reliable ride since 2018. Never died on me or left me stranded for more than 15k miles for the last 6 years.
But now, there are issues.
First. Yesterday I wanted to pick up the LeBaron to drive to my Mom (in hospital ATM) with my wife. Go to storage, turn key, wait for fuel to arrive at carb and run. That was my expection.
But, no run. And no time to diagnose (first: Mom at hospital). Later I re-checked and hat a strong, blue spark. Good. But no fuel in Carb. Not good. Likely culprit: fuel pump (hoses + filter have been replaced last year, they cracked with only like 4 years old...).
This morning, early, because again Mom at the hospital and a local meet nearby I just linked a electric fuel pump instead of the mechanical, hooked the wires & hoses - turn key and run. Very good.
Ran just fine to the hospital and the meet (we had like 93F today), no heat issues, no run issues, all good and perfect. Even long wait-in-line, no problem. As usual
On my return trip, the engine started perfectly, idled well and ran good on the first like 4 miles. Then, from a dead stop I had to turn left. Did that, it accelerated fine (no race start; well, that's impossible anyway
) but just a couple 100 yards on the road it kind of stumbled, hesitated, no power, it felt like not enough fuel. So, while on the road (no emergency stop possible), turn in neutral, try a couple shots of gas. Dead. Engine just died. Luckily, while still rolling and me seeking a spot to park (still none), I tried to start it again. Turn key - it came immediately to life, no stumble, hesitation - just fine.While I was driving kind of careful, listening to anything abnormal (none) it ran just fine. Until I did it again: Dead stop, start with a left turn. Stumble, Hesitation, Died. Again, neutral, start, ran.
SO. To come home I tried to figure a way home with only right turns, no left turns. I had to more left turns and was anxious, if I'd be the culprit of the next big traffic jam in city (only one lane, no side of the road space). But going very slowly through the left turns I managed to safely arrive home.
NOW, I'm kind of at a loss about what this could be.
First thing, I'll re-check the ignition, to rule this out. On the road I quick-checked some connectors (e.g. new fuel pump), which are fine and not moving. Then I'll check the carb (a Edelbrock 1406, it's a 4bbl 318 in it, with just 62k miles on it).
Any ideas? Suggestions?
Oh, and pictures of the meeting are here Car Meetings / 2026 08 Straßenbahnmuseum Wehmingen | gecius.de Gallery
