Chrysler Repair: 97 Chrysler Sebring Conv. dies when hot, sebring conv, chrysler sebring

Question
When driving our car on highway at 55 mph and the outside temp is 80 or higher the car will sometimes die. Have to wait about 30 seconds and it will start. Also will sometimes die at a stop light when it is 80 temp or higher. Only when is is extremely hot do we have this problem. Any ideas ?

Answer
Hi Thomas,
I suspect that one of the two sensors for the spark system is failing when it gets too warm, which is a common failure mode for these solid state devices. You can find out if this is the case by having a fault code readout of the engine controller. You definitely can do this via a fault code reader that plugs into a socket under the dash. Most Autozone parts stores will do this for free, or you can get it done for under $40 at an independent garage. The other possibility is that if you use the ignition switch:"On-off-on-off-on and leave it on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time, that the odometer reading may then change to show the four digit fault codes OR the check engine light which remain 'on' will begin to flash, pause, flash,etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause, then repeat for accuracy. Then group in pairs to form two digit fault codes.
If you get four-digit fault codes by means of a reader or the odometer window, the crank sensor fault is 0320, while the cam sensor fault is 0340. If you get it by the check engine light blinking the code will be 11 or 54, respectively.
Let me know what you learn from the codes and we can go from there. The sensors are each less than $100 and are quite easy to replace. But you need to verify by the codes whether and which need to be replaced.
Roland