QuestionMy 1999 Chrsler Sebring Convertable experiences an electric short. This only occurs when the auto becomes hot (not engine overheating)from sitting in the sun.
The following problems occur at the same time.
wipers stop working, instrument panel stops working,auto door locks don't work,also remote entry system including trunk release does not work,AC system blows warm air, and the top will not work.
the car starts fine and runs well and all the lighting systems work,as well as the power windows.
The ignition switch was replaced but that didn't fix the problem also there is a faint squeek comming from the steering column.
AnswerHi Rich,
There is one module that centralizes all or nearly all of the systems that are adversely affected: the body control module. I am not certain which of two possible locations it is located at: under the dash adjacent to the fuse box or on the right side under the dash just to the right of the passenger's shin (above the kick panel). It has several multi-pin plugs totalling about 50 wires.
Three possible reasons for its intermittant failure:
1) one of more of the possibly 4 fuses that supply power to the module has a cracked internal conductor and when it heats up the internal conductor opens up which cuts the power. Look for subtle cracks in the transparent fuses' internal wire for this possibility.
2. water has dripped on the moduke's plug sockets and in a temperature dependent manner causes a short between the pins. This water intrusion problem exists with the 90-95 LeBaron convertibles, but I haven't heard of it being modified by a temperature effect. But look at the plugs for the module to see if they are wet, corroded, or dirty, in which case a spraying with electrical contact cleaner will help correct that.
3. the module itself is temperature sensitive and is therefor failing when it overheats. You could try directing a hair dryer blower at it and periodically checking to see if that initiates the problems or not. Similarly you could try that technique on the fuses under the dash and the fuses in the power distribution box (that is under the hood adjacent to the battery). If you can replicate the breakdown that will help you to focus on the spot where it appears to be heat sensitive.
Unfortunately I don't have the wiring diagrams for the Sebring convertible. There is a chance that the Cirrus/Stratus system is identical in which case the fuses for the module are: fuse 5 under the dash, fuse 8 in distribution center, fuse 11 under the dash, and fuse 9 under the dash. The fuse in the power distribution center actually powers two of the fuses under the dash, so I would look carefully at the fuses in the distribution center to see if you find a flakey one there. Now these may be totally inaccurate for the Sebring, so I would look at all the fuses carefully.
Let me know if you hit paydirt with this approach. I believe that the body control module or its power supply leads are the problem. Also, there will be two wires located on its plugs that are solid black and black/light green stripe which go to screws mounted nearby on the side wall (cowl) which serve as a ground (return current path to the battery). Make sure those wires are tight and their hardware in not corroded at the attachment points.
Roland
