QuestionThank you for your answer , Very clear ,I did check the starter and nothing when i banged on it , I did move the shifter as i was trying to start it and nothing. I dont hear a clicking from the relay but the fuse is not blown ,
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The text above is a follow-up to ...
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Hi , My car is a 1996 Chrysler Sebring with a 6 cyl it was running fine I drove it home parked it and when i went to start it all the dash lights light up and thats all i did hook a jump box to it and still nothing , I didnt see any blown fuses at all under the hood , Do you have any ideas , Thank you
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Hi Kenneth,
The only fuse that is involved is #8 under the hood. I am assuming that you have the convertible model.
The things to check are whether the starter relay, also located in the box under the hood makes a soft click when a helper tries the ignition key in the "start position". If so then you know that the ignition switch and the park/neutral safety interlock are working. If no click then try moving the shifter slightly to see if that interlock might be slightly out of position. It will take a voltmeter or neon glow light to tell if the voltage is actually getting to the relay from that circuit, and if so then presumably the relay is not working if it is.
If the relay clicks, then the chances are the starter motor or its switch (the loud click from the solenoid switch) is not working. You could try tapping on the side of the starter motor with a hammer so as to jar the armature/brushes interface if that was the cause. But it will require a little tracing with the voltmeter to diagnose the situation. Let me know if you have a meter and an inclination to do that testing and I'll tell you how.
In the meantime, check fuse 8 (look for a subtle crack in the internal wire) try moving the shifter, tapping on the starter relay in the distribution center under the hood, and tapping with a hammer on the starter motor to see if you can get some life while a helper tries the key start position. Also check the clamps on the battery to be sure they are tight. Then let me know what happens and if you want the procedures for trouble shooting with a volt/ohmmeter. Also verify that you have the convertible model. I'll be available around 7 am CST tomorrow so try me then.
Roland
AnswerHi Kenneth,
Here is the way to test the starter motor and its solenoid, and to start the car if they are ok. Pull the starter relay out of its socket. Then notice that 2 of the 5 pin sockets are side by side (may be labelled 79 and 87 in the base of the socket). Jump a wire between those two pin sockets and the starter motor should jump to life if voltage is present at the socket (on 87). Then to start the car, just turn the ignition switch to "run", then make sure the transmission is in neutral or park, then jump again. If that gets you started, it still won't tell you if the relay is bad or the ignition switch or the wiring of the balance of the circuit that actuates the relay, or that you aren't getting 12v on pin 87 from fuse 8. So let me know if you have a volt-ohmmeter and wish to do the analysis to repair the problem.
If the starter motor doesn't respond to the jump, then either the large red wire from the battery to the starter motor is loose (be careful, that wire is hot all the time, so don't touch it without first disconnecting the (-) post of the battery), or the starter solenoid switch or the motor proper is bad.
Let me know what you learn, please.
Roland
