Chrysler Repair: 300m no starter action, steering wheel lock, volt ohmmeter

Question
I have a 2001 Chrysler 300M that has intermittant starting problems.  It either starts fine or not at all.  When it

doesn't start the dash lights all come on but there is no sound from the engine.. dead quiet.  I'm pretty certain

it's not the battery because most of the time it turns over fine (and the battery is only 5 months old). I'm

wondering about a problem with the ignition switch or the steering wheel lock.  When it didn't start today I noticed

the steering wheel wasn't locked.   It turned freely regardless of the position of the ignition key.  I couldn't

shift out of park either.. regardless of key position.  Is there some interlock on the ignition switch that could be

causing the problem.  A few weeks ago the local dealerhp had it for 6 hours and couldn't find anything wrong

because, of course, it started fine when in their shop.  When it  wouldn't start today and I was waiting for AAA I

tried to pull off any engine diagnostic codes using the ignition key method.  Nothing..

Thanks

Answer
Hi Steve,
The ignition key provides power to the starter motor relay in the box under the hood. I am not certain if the '01 is like the '99 or the '04 which are the two manuals that I have but they are quite similar so it probably doesn't matter. But in either event, find the starter motor relay in such a box, or simply open the box and have a friend try the ignition key while you listen for a click coming from one of the relays in that box (the relay is the 4th one from the inside end of the box). If there is a click, then the ignition switch is OK, if not, then either the ignition switch is bad or the safety interlock that prevents the relay from clicking if you are in a gear other than park or neutral is not working/out of adjustment. So let me know if you get a click or not. Then we can go from there, but you will need a volt/ohmmeter to do some measurements to figure out where the circuit is breaking down:
ignition key/relay/safety switch/relay contacts/wire to starter solenoid/solenoid switch/starter itself/wires to starter, ground/fuse.
Tbere is a steering wheel lock and interlock to the gear shift but that doesn't affect the starter motor function AFAIK.
Roland