Chrysler Repair: 1997 Chrysler Sebring shutdown, chrysler sebring convertible, chrysler sebring

Question
Hi.  We have a 97 Chrysler Sebring Convertible.  Our son drove it to work last night and accidentally hit the panic button on the remote key.  He didn't get it turned off quickly (I think the battery is dying in in the remote).  It seems as though the car has now shut down.  We try to start it and we get nothing and we can't put the top down.  We do have lights and power locks and the doors "ding" when we open the door.  A friend told us to disconnect the battery and maybe that would reset whatever we've set into motion but that didn't work.  He also told us to lock the door with the key and then unlock the door with they key.  These things didn't work.  We still get nothing.  Any ideas?


Answer
Hi Dreama,
I don't believe that the issue with the remote key has anything to do with the "shutdown". There is nothing in the wiring design of the car that prevents the starter motor from cranking over the engine. Your battery may be discharged to the extent that it will not crank the engine, or the gearshift lever may be slightly out of adjustment such that the safety interlock thinks you aren't in park or neutral, so try moving the gear shift a slightly to either side of those two positions to see if that corrects the failure of the starter. If not, then open the hood and find the oblong power distribution box on the driver's side near the front of the compartment and remove its lid. There are 4 relays at one end and one of those should click softly when a helper tries the starter. If so, and yet not starter action then the chances are the battery is bad, but it might be the relay, or the wire from it to the starter, or the starter itself. You can have a weak battery and still get lights and bells. The effect of a problem with the theft/remote key system falsely giving a theft alarm status is that the engine will crank, but it just won't start. That is not what it seems is your problem, correct?
So let me know specifically about the starter action. And maybe try to jump start it (there are posts on the driver's side strut tower labelled + and - where jumper cables can be attached).
Roland