Chrysler Repair: ignition fuse: #8, 98 Sebring JXi, solenoid switch, chrysler sebring

Question
QUESTION: First I have a 98 Chrysler Sebring JXI convertible. yesterday when I went to start the car it looked like it wanted to start but wouldn't turn over. So after a while my husband disconnected the battery and reconnected it and then wen I went to start it , nothing happened, it was quiet, just brake light came on. This actually happened about a month ago and you told me to check the ignition fuse and we noticed it was blown. So right away we tried that again and found once again it was blown. So we replaced it and nothing, the car still didnt't start the same thing happened. So we checked the ignition fuse again and it was blown again. We repeated with another good fuse and same thing happened, doesnt start and fuse blown. Any help you can give me is appreciated and thanks again for all your help last time as well.

Jennifer

ANSWER: Hi Jennifer,
If we are speaking of fuse #8 (20 amp), that one does a number of things any one of which could cause it to blow. But most all of them draw on the fuse when you fisrt turm the key to the 'run' position, before you try the starter. So put in a fuse and turn the key only to 'run', listen for the fuel pump, then turn off, and do that again; then check the fuse to make sure it is still good. If that didn't blow it then I believe the issue is with the starter motor solenoid switch or its wire from the starter relay to it that is shorting/overdrawing the fuse. It is a brown wire which you would find at the starter motor. Your husband can get under the car and remove that wire from the starter motor, then try the 'start' position of the key. If that doesn't blow the fuse, then the odds are that the starter's solenoid switch is overdrawing the fuse and you would need to replace/rebuild the starter motor. Let me know if some scenario than that I listed above causes the #8 fuse to blow, but the tests I suggested should lead to a conclusion.
Roland

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well we werent able to get to the wire to check it but when we tried turning it to run and off and did it again it didn't blow. Since we are unable to get to that wire we were just going to ave someone change the starter and wire. Should I replace the starter solenoid switch also?

Thanks for all your help.

Jen

Answer
Hi Jen,
If the fuse didn't blow when you tried the run position, then that pretty much has to point to the starter circuit itself. Probably it isn't the wire, the starter is more likely the problem, so don't do anything special about the wire except to make sure the fuse doesn't blow after the starter and the wire are separated, which would prove that the wire isn't the problem. The solenoid and starter motor are usually replaced as a pair because the solenoid is actually part of the starter module. But if the solenoid is tested and shown to be the problem by itself it could be simply replaced. In any case, a shop that does starters will be able to check out exactly, and ideally would only replace what is needed. I hope I have helped you.
Roland