Question-------------------------hi Roland,thanks for responding...no..i do not have any of those things to test.The fuse is a 20 amp and is #8 and is labeled IGN FUEL STARTER and under circuit it says:run/start,run/ACC,and start ignition switch feed,starter solenoid,fuel pump.
thanks,Dottie
Followup To
Question -
hi Roland,
Please help! i went to start my car...would'nt start, and tried to jump it...did'nt work,when i figured out a 20 amp fuse blew under the hood,i replaced it...car started rite up! a couple days later ...same thing.So i replaced the fuse again and now.. when i turn the key over it blows...Whats goin on?can u help? the fuse is the ign fuel starter fuse slot. Thanks,Dottie
madottie1@yahoo.com
Answer -
Hi Dottie,
I am working with the '95 shop manual from Chrysler rather than the '96 but I would think there should be little different between the two model years. My problem is that only one of the fuses/fusible links shown in my manual to be in the underhood box that is 20 amp is no. 8 that operates the condenser fan motor; that is not the one that you are describing. None of them are labelled "ign fuel starter" in my manual. But there is supposed to be one 30 amp (pink) fusible link that does supply power to the starter motor relay and the fuel pump relay via the ignition switch and that is the second one from the left end of the 2nd row of 5 such fusible links (green-pink-pink-yellow-pink, respectively). Is that the one that is blowing? Let me know and we'll have a go at why; if that is not it try and describe the location of the fuse that is blowing or any number that might be associated with it.
I'll await your response before going any further.
Roland
AnswerHi Dottie,
I am afraid that they may have changed the wiring somewhat in this underhood box between '95 and '96. If so then I am hard pressed to tell you exactly what to do. Your description of what that #8 fuse does suggests to me that it supplies power to the ignition switch and then that switch passes that power on to the three circuits: starter relay, starter solenoid and fuel pump relay. So to ascertain which of those is overdrawing the fuse and causing it to blow you would need to have an ohmmeter and a manual so as to identify the suspect components in each circuit and then measure how the drawdown of current (as reflected in an ohm reading for each) changes as you disconnect each of the components until you find the one that is bad.
It would be difficult to do that from a distance unless we both had the same documents in hand and knew that they were accurately showing the car layout.
So I believe that you will need some electrical troubleshooting on site done by either a Chrysler electronic mechanic or an independent auto electic shop mechanic who has familiarity or a manual for the '96 Sebring. Unfortunately that means having the car towed to the shop. If you were in the SF Bay area I'd have a go at it myself. I suspect it is just one of those components (or it could be its supply wire) that has shorted itself to ground, but the problem is describing to you where each is located and that is not very easy to do, and without a meter it would mean buying a supply of fuses and then by trial and error, each time blowing a fuse, carrying on until the fuse doesn't blow; then replacing that component. It is not a very elegant way to troubleshoot, even if I could with certainty tell you where to find each of the possible troublemakers.
Let me know if you have another idea, and in any case how this is resolved.
Roland
