Some Chrysler LeBaron Problem(s)?

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Sharra

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1987 Chrysler LeBaron Turbo Coupe:

The headlight shades won't come up when I want them too. Is this an electrical malfunction or are they stuck?
I put a new battery in a few months ago, tried to start it, and worked fine. After a few weeks of snow and cold, I tried again, but nothing turned on (Tried before then, and it didn't click all the way back or wouldn't let me). Does cold weather effect the battery's fluids at all or did it just use up all the energy for not being clicked all the way?

Thanks again!
 
Your headlight shades are operated by either electrical power, or, are also operated via vaccumm,as well. If they are the electrical type, there is a small electric motor, that moves each shade up and down. This motor may be shot, the wiring to the wiring may be bad, as well. Or, there could be a short in the wiring or the motor, that is causing your battery problems. Check the wiring, from the headlight shades, to the fuse box, for shorts, or bare wire. While you are there, check your fuse box, as well. You may have a bad fuse, as well. If your headlight shades are vaccumm operated, there is a vaccumm modulator for each shade, that works them up and down. Vaccumm is supplied from the engine, when the car is running. This is stored in a tank, and, has small rubber hoses going from the tank, to the shades. If one of these hoses is leaking, the shades will not work, either. Most cars that have shades for the headlights. have a back up system, to either raise them, or, lower them, as well. There should be some kind of knob, close to the headlights, under the hood, that should raise and lower them, by hand. One other thing you can try is this... If you want them open, try to push the shades up, manually. If they go, push them as far as they will go, then tie them open with wire, otherwise, they will fall back down, eventually. At least, if you can get them open, then you'll have the headlights, when you need them. Now, for your battery problem... Cold weather can be nasty for a battery, indeed. But, it should have started, unless, your headlights have a short in them, causing the battery to drain. You could also have a bad starter, or a bad soloinod Cold weather can affect a battery's fluid, espically, if the battery is run down, as in the case of being drained by a short, for example. The cold weather can freeze a battery's fluid, rendering the battery useless. Espically when the battery is weak. A fully charged battery will not freeze, as quick, mind you, it can still happen, though.
 
I'm pretty sure the battery drained from sitting and needs to be recharged by jump starting the car.
 
New battery and you should be good Sharra. In the snow and cold, it is vital to start your car every day, or every other day and let it run and get up to operating temperature. Good Luck.
 
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