The mileage is too low (assuming it is still EFI), so I would change the air
filter, spark plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor and the Oxygen
sensor. All this will come to less than $30, and should make a great
improvement for you. If the fuel filters have not been replaced, I'd
certainly add that to the list. The originals are no longer available, but
if you remove them and take them to your local NAPA store, they can match
them very closely - in fact I did exactly that in Boise when I was visiting
our daughter there!
Murray Park can help you with the license plate trim - contact him by
looking him up on our IML vendor list. Of course there are others who can
also help - I have had very good results with Murray.
The nylon pull string in your power antenna has come loose from the drive
motor. These can be replaced, but it is a lot of work to get at the
antenna, as you have to take it out from under the fender. Remove the
plastic flap from behind the right front wheel. Remove the antenna and take
it apart. You can buy a replacement nylon insert from your friendly local
parts place.
The wiper linkage is very tricky to replace - I suspect he has put the
linkage back on wrong. If you are handy with tools, just take it out again
and study the way it has to move. There is a lot of monkey motion involved
in the drive link on the driver's side. Remember that the drive motor
actually reverses direction to park the blades, so the linkage has to change
it's length when it is driven in one direction from it's length when it is
driven in the other direction. It's hard to explain, but if you study the
parts, you'll see what I mean. These linkages fail frequently - but the
parts are still available from your local Chrysler dealer. You have to buy
the whole left side linkage if it fails, and it is a chore to change it!
The cruise control difficulty could be any one of 1000 things (OK, maybe
only 500), but the first thing to check is your control switch. There are 4
wires from the switch to the unit - make sure they all react to pushing the
control through it's various actions. Also, make sure your brake light
switch is adjusted properly, since an error there may make the cruise
control think the brakes are on. Use the wiring diagram to trace out each
of the various wires in the system - it should be possible to track it down.
Dick Benjamin (who lives about 10 miles from your folks, and still uses
their fender covers!)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Noska" <lnoska@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 9:51 AM
Subject: RE: IML: My Dads Imperial 1982
> I have just picked up my Dads Imperial in Southern CA. and drove it to
Idaho
> about 1800 miles. The ride was great, I was impressed. The MPG for the
> trip was 20.3 at around 70 MPH. The car seamed to go up to 80 with out
any
> trouble, as the cruse control did not work. This car has 22,853 miles and
> has been in the garage all of it's life. I have to let it set outside
until
> the snow melts enough to get to my other garage.(bummer) I plan on
driving
> it in the summer months.
>
> I need to find a license plate holder for the rear of the car, It fits in
> the cavity of the trunk lid. The chrome part fell off and is missing.
>
> Also The motor for the window on the passenger door is not working. The
> power antenna is nor working but the motor is working? Does any body
have
> an idea why the antenna is not working??? I have disconnected the motor
so
> it does not burn out. And my brother changed a part on the windshield
> wipers and now they will not go to the home position. And lastly the
cruse
> control isn't working I checked the fuse and it's ok now that I am home I
> can check it with a VOM.
>
> Larry
>
>
> Lawrence R Noska
> lnoska@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Hauser, ID 83854
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of casa92
> Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 7:14 PM
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: IML: Even more 80's Imperial thoughts(kind of long)
>
> I have read a few e-mails on the value of the 80's Imperials. I have an 81
> and I am the second owner and the first owner kept it in a garage (my
Dad).
> I believe the issue with the 80's value is that these cars do not look old
> for a 23 year old car. The body style and the electronics were way ahead
of
> their time and it may take a few years and some help from 80's owners to
> make people realize were this car fit in to automotive history. Once they
do
> then watch out.
>
> Scott Schmidt
>
> 81 Imperial
>
>
> At 07:24 PM 2/6/2004, RandalPark@xxxxxxx wrote:
>
>
> Clay,
>
> Your point about realizing just how far Chrysler had sunk by then, and
also
> what a leap of faith would have been required to put out that much money
for
> their best car was a good one, and one that I made a couple of weeks ago
in
> another thread.
>
> As far as the comparison between the Imperial and the K-car, I can only
say
> that the K-car was a success (in fact it and the soon to come mini-van
saved
> the company) while the Imperial was not.
>
> Paul
>
> In a message dated 2/6/2004 5:29:28 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> imperialman@xxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
>
> > I just finished reading cover to cover the June 1981 Motor Trend
> magazine.
> > Though no Imperial specific articles, the letters to the editors
> section did mention Imperial.
> >
> > The June issue had the MT editors taking a lot of heat about their
> selection for the Motor Trend car of the year, the Plymouth-Dodge K-car
> .
> >
> > One irate reader wrote in part
> > " You(also) gave the Imperial, obviously more luxurious than any
> other car tested a rating of 6 in comfort and 5 in ride and drive, while
the
> Reliant turned in the highest rating
> > in both categories.
> > I fail to see how the Reliant could score better than the Imperial,
> C#$lass and G%nada in ANY of the luxury categories.
> >
> > The short answer from the MT editor was " We don't feel that comfort
> and ride & drive are necessarily synonymous with
> > "luxury"
> >
> > Now what kind of answer is that ?
> >
> > I don't think anyone on this list would argue that an 81 Imperial's
> ride is better than any K- car and I sure don't want to start a K-car
> discussion so I am offering up this letter because it mentions Imperial
and
> I think it shows how political Motor Trends car of the year (was)is.
> >
> > Something that also impressed me after reading this 1981 Motor Trend
> was how far Chrysler really had sunk.
> > What a leap of faith it must have taken someone to even
> > consider laying out 18K to buy an Imperial
> >
> > Clay Smith
> > 67 Crown Coupe
> > 60 Custom
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
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