QuestionQUESTION: My 300 Chrysler will crank but engine won't turn over, lights, radio comes on but won't start. Also recently the programming stopped working. such as, when you exit car the driver seat automatically goes back, now it doesn't, i checked the settings and everything is fine. please help.
Thank you
ANSWER: Hi Tammie,
There is a self-diagnostic capability on-board which you should be able to access with the ignition key: "on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then observe the odometer window to see the mileage reading replaced by 4-digit number(s) preceded by a P. Let me know what they are and we'll go from there. It may be that this approach will not work, in which case you would want to buy or borrow a 'code reader' to plug into a socket under the dash next to the steering column and that will tell you what the fault codes are. Either way, that is the first step to figuring out why it won't start.
Roland
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QUESTION: Thank you for responding. I did the self-diagnostic test and no code showed only "-----" then "done".
ANSWER: Hi Tammie,
Just to be certain, the starter motor is rotating (cranking) the engine, correct?
If so, and there are no codes stored in the memory of the engine control module (the 'done' tells us that), we really have a problem with diagnosis. Does the engine sound like it always did when you tried the starter?
Might you have run out of gas due to an inaccurate guage? Do you hear a humm for about a second coming from the fuel tank when you first turn the key to the run position?
Let me know the answer to those questions.
Other than checking for spark and testing for fuel pressure, almost everything else that could cause a no start would be detected by the engine controller and 'coded'. Let me know and we'll see if there might be a clue here.
Roland
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QUESTION: Yes, the motor is cranking and yes the engine sounds like it always does when starting.
I have not run out of gas (but it does seem like no gas is getting through, when i press the gas pedal it doesn't seem like any gas is flowing. No i do not hear anything from the gas tank. I had AAA come out and they said it sounded like maybe the fuel tank needs flushed or replaced.
AnswerHi Tammie,
On the fuel tank/fuel pump/gasoline to engine possibilities: have a helper turn the key to the run position while you position yourself at the rear of car and if you can crouch down to listen for the sound of humm that comes from the fuel tank and last about 1 second that would be very helpful to know whether it is there or not. You might not be able to hear that from inside the vehicle because of sound insultation. Then the next step might be clear. You would not normally expect any gas to be issued when stepping on the pedal unless the engine was running now days. Did AAA measure anything that lead them to suggest flushing the tank/replacing the tank? That is a pretty extreme proposal without something to go on. Did you see them test anything in the engine compartment?
Roland
