QuestionQUESTION: We have a chrysler cirrus that has an electrical problem.1st Intermitenly while
driving the tach will stop working and the digital odometer will go off. The
car runs and the odometer records the miles but just dosent show the
number. Recently it occasionly it wont start, turning the key has no effect, no
dash lights come on. The battery was checked and seemed to be fine. It
would start yesterday evening but when I went back this morning and
reconnected the battery it started right away. Ive tried to pull the codes with
the key and Im unable to get it to flash anything to me.
ANSWER: Hi David,
It could be a fuse(s) or the ignition switch itself. Check the fuses first: in the power distribution box under the hood. Look at fuses 7, 8, and 14, and under the dash look at fuses 7 and 11. Check not only for blown fuses but also for a subtle crack in the internal wire that might intermittently open up.
Then the ignition switch: when it won't start, have a helper try the starter while you open the lid on the under hood fuse box that is at the rear of the box under the air intake. Listen for a soft click from the starter relay which is one of the four at the back end of the box. If you don't hear it, and the gear shift is in neutral or park, then probably the ignition switch is bad. Similarly, when the odometer won't work and/or no dash lights come on check for voltage present or not on fuse 11 under the dash (leaving the ignition switch in the "run" position). If you don't have voltage on fuse 11 then that is the adjacent section of the ignition switch that is intermittently bad. If those check out OK then we'll have to look further. But first verify the fuses and function of the igniton switch.
Roland
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Roland,
Thank you for your help. The car was starting fine until yesterday when it
quit. I was able to check all the fuses you listed and they all have power to
both sides and the relay is making a soft click. We get no response when we
turn the key. the dash lights come on and it dings and seems ok but just
dosent start. Is the starter possibily bad. Where is the starter located on this
car?
AnswerHi David,
If the relay is clicking and you get no louder click from the solenoid switch at the starter motor, then either the points in the relay are oxidized/burned or the solenoid switch is bad. The starter motor is located on the underside of the engine, the side that faces the front of the car, just in front of the seam between the engine and the transmission. You will see a push-on connector with a brown wire that is the one that comes from the starter relay. That brown wire should show 12V when the starter relay softly clicks. If it does and yet when it is attached you don't hear the louder click from the motor's solenoid switch then I believe that you need to replace the solenoid switch or more typically remove and replace the starter motor entirely. If you don't see 12V on the connecter when operating the ignition switch and the relay clicks softly then the relay's internal points are bad and it needs to be replaced.
Roland
