Chrysler Repair: 1996 sebring convertable, sebring convertable, amp fuse

Question
Roland, I sent you a question the other day about my sebring with no ignition, which I still haven't got going. I have 2.5 engine with no ignition. I did all the checks you sent me before, ie continuity checks from PCM to distributor, checked for voltage from ASD relay that was the only thing that seemed wrong I got about 9 volts down to 6 while cranking the engine at the 2 pin (one wire plug on distr.) otherwise everything checked. Someone I know loaned me a distributor they use for troubleshooting at dealership but it didn't fix my problem either. I did notice the part number was one digit off but I think it came from a later model car. Prior to this I have had an intermittent rpm indication some days no rpm shown at all but it has done this for some months I don't know if it has any bearing at all, also the fuel indication sometimes drops out momentarilly. Would appreciate any thing else you can offer. Sorry 1996 sebring convertable 2.5 v6

Answer
Hi Michael,
Your observation about the voltage at the coil on the single wire of the 2-pin plug is very relevant. That is supposed to be full battery voltage. So it dropping to 6V when cranking would certainly halve the voltage supply for the spark, which is probably why your spark is weak or nil and why the fuel pump might drop out. On the '96 Cirrus/Stratus (I don't have a Sebring wiring diagram) that uses the same V-6, the supply to the ASD is via a 20 Amp fuse in the power distribution center and from there on a red/tan wire to pin #97 of the ASD socket. And the output from the ASD is on pin #89 at the socket on the dark green orange wire and from there to: the coil, the injectors, the downstream oxygen sensor (passing thru a 10 amp fuse in the power distribution center), the PCM, the generator, a noise suppressor... all on dark green/orange wires. So either there is some resistance in the initial 20 amp fuse or its socket, or the contact points of the ASD are pitted and causing a voltage drop there. You could try pulling the ASD relay and checking the voltage at pin 97 and if it is 12V then just jumper from 97 to 89 and try to start it (the ASD is a safety relay in the event of a crash which leaves the ignition "on" but the engine not running, so it shuts down the fuel and spark, etc. to help prevent a fire; that is not relevant in this setting so by-passing it should cause no harm or risk). Then you aught to get the full 12V on the coil and the fuel pump and maybe it will start. If so, then presumably you have a worn out ASD relay. Possibly the coil driver circuit for the ASD may be faulty and note closing the contacts firmly, but that would have to be investigated. I suppose there could be one of the other items that are powered by the relay that is drawing too much current and dragging down the voltage through resistive losses, but then the fuse should have blown if that much current was being drawn.
That is how I see it. Let me know what you find out.
Roland