Chrysler Repair: starter:98 Sebring V-6, solenoid switch, battery clamps

Question
ok until 2 days ago my car was fine. then someone left the parking lights on and I guess it drained the battery but we got a jump and.was getting power but it would not start. someone suggested it could be my starter or relay. I just don't know what to do. I got to the relay but I don't know if it is bad. how in the world can I diagnose what the problem is and fix it without having to take it to get it fixed. I just got my starter car out of the shop this last monday for the distributor being replaced and now this. I have a 1998 sebring conv v6. can you help?

Answer
Hi Michele,
If you mean that the starter motor doesn't turn over the engine, then I would check under the hood to see if the starter relay clicks when a helper tries to key. If the starter relay doesn't click, then try jiggling the gear shift a little off the center position of the park or neutral position.  If it does, then either the starter motor or the wire from the starter relay to the starter motor solenoid switch (the one that makes a louder click) or the battery clamps are loose or corroded, of the fat red wire from the + clamp of the battery to the starter motor is loose at the starter. So check those sorts of things and let me know what happens. Don't handle the fat wire or the + clamp of the battery without first disconnecting the - post clamp of the battery. If the stater is turning the engine but it won't start, that is a different issue. Let me know about that. Were that the case, it could be your anti-theft system is keeping you from running the engine. If that is the case, try removing fuse #5 from the fuse box under the dash for about 1/2 hour, then put it back and try again.
It would be good to get the battery fully charged first using a battery charger before doing all the above steps rather than trying to do this with a jumper in place.
Roland