Chrysler Repair: 99 Sebring Convertible: no start, plug caps, cam shaft


Question
Our 99 Sebring Convertible, V6, won't start after sitting about 3 days.  Alternator and battery check out good.  Pulled + side of battery, put test light in between battery and cable, pulled all fuses one at a time on side of dash and under the hood, light stays on all the time.  Could this mean computer problem?

Answer
Hi Richard,
That is an interesting approach but I am not sure that it is very diagnostic unless the battery were draining which doesn't seem to be the case. The reason the light stayed on may be that you didn't have the fat red wire at the alternator disconnected. That too is connected to the + post cable of the battery and probably draws enough to turn on the test light.
I wonder whether you checked to listen for the fuel pump to run when you turn the key to the run position, humming from the fuel tank, that lasts for about 1 second? That would be normal, and if not then we have an issue with a fuse #8 or the fuel pump. Did you have a helper crank the starter while you checked for spark on one of spark plug caps by sticking a screwdriver tip in the cap, hold the cap and driver together and position the shaft of the screwdriver 1/4" from the cylinder head, and then observe for spark to jump the gap?
If you don't have spark, then take a look to see if there is any action of the cam shaft/valves if you look inside the oil filler opening while a helper cranks it over. If not, that would point to the timing belt. Or open the distributor and see if the rotor moves while a helper cranks it over, another check for the timing belt.
Let me know what you learn. I doubt a computer is your problem.
I don't know for sure if the fault codes will readout using the ignition key:"on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. If so, they would show up on the odometer window of the cluster. If nothing appears then the only way to get the fault codes would be via a plug-in fault code reader.
Roland
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