QuestionHello Roland,
I have a 1996 Chrysler Sebring LX. I have been having problems with it starting. The car will turn over repeatedly but will not "catch". It doesn't seem to matter if it's cold or hot. Once it's started it runs fine. I recently took it in for service and had a diagnostic done. They replaced the distributor, rotor, wires, new spark plugs, and a tune up. I picked up the car and it started, then when I got home and tried to restart, it wouldn't start. The next day I had to take it to work and it started fine, but going home it wouldn't start again. I tried over and over and it wouldn't start. For some reason I shifted it into neutral and put it back into park and it started right up. I have noticed in the past that the key can't be taken out of the ignition until you push the shifter into park and hear a "click". Could the shifter be affecting the car to start?
Thanks
AnswerHi Dave,
I don't believe that key removal interlock would impact the ability to start, as it is purely mechanical. Possibly however the ignition switch has a section which is not operating properly because of the torque that such an interlock places on key/lock cylinder interface with the switch itself, but that is an 'outside' possibility. So save that one untill after we look at others.
What I would do are two things:
When you turn the key to "run", before trying the starter, listen for the hum from the fuel pump located in the gas tank to make sure that it does do that. It should hum for about a second, then shut off. If not, then I would suspect the automatic shutdown relay circuit or possibly the theft alarm system if you have that on board.
Second, this '96 model is just on the cusp of the OBD-I to -II changeover so it may be able to give you a readout of fault codes via the ignition switch: Turn it "on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then watch the check engine light, which will remain "on", to begin to flash, pause, flash, etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause. Then repeat to assure an accurate flash count. Group the counts in pairs in the order of appearance to form the two-digit fault codes of the OBD-I system. Then either write back or go to www.allpar.com/fix/codes.html for a code translation.
Also, check for whether you have spark when it won't start by inserting the tip of a screwdriver with a plastic handle into one of the caps on a spark plug. Hold the screwdriver by the plastic handle and the spark cap by it's external insulated surface while you position the metal shaft of the screwdriver 1/4" away from the cylinder head or similar metal engine surface and while doing that have a helper try to start the car. Watch for whether a blue spark jumps across the gap between the shaft and engine surface for the duration of a 5 second crank.
Let me know what you learn and we can take it from there.
Roland
