QuestionQUESTION: I have a 93 Chrysler Lebaron. The car shut off while driving down the freeway yesterday. I checked the codes, one of the codes was the ASD relay circuit. I am unfamiliar with this circuit and am wondering if it could have caused the problem I had yesterday. I check the coil last night and it did not appear to have any spark. Could this also be because of this Relay?
ANSWER: Hi Bobby,
The ASD code (#42) says that when the engine controller has told the ASD relay to close its contacts nonetheless the controller doesn't detect that is happening. The ASD relay provides the power to many items of the engine: fuel pump, spark coil, injectors, oxygen sensors. So it is central to the operation, and its additional purpose is to shut down when the engine stops rotating as would be the case of an accident when you would not want there to be fuel pumping and power to the other items either.
It could simply be the relay itself. You didn't mention which Lebaron you have so I will assume a convertible with a 3.0L engine, otherwise tell me. The relay is in the power distribution box in front of the driver side strut tower and it is the next to the most outside relay. You could try switching it out with another relay of the same part number that isn't crucial to starting the engine and see if that corrects the situation (the three inner-most relays would be candidates for such a switch). If that didn't correct it, then try jumping across the relay's socket from the rear pin to the front pin which should mimic a closed relay situation and it should start, but it is unsafe to run it that way except as a test. If that doesn't start it then check to see if you have voltage on the rear pin of the relay socket all the time, and the inboard pin with the ignition switch 'on' and if you don't let me know as there is a wiring problem. Most likely the ASD relay is bad.
Roland
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QUESTION: I don't have a Power distribution box. The make and model are Chrysler Leberon Sedan 3.0 liter V6. There are some relays in that area however no distribution block
ANSWER: Hi Bobby,
The same circuit is in your car as in the convert, only the relay is on the driver's side inner fender, the very front-most relay of 3. You could try switching out the 2nd or 3rd relay in the row if they have the same part number to see if that solves the problem. The pins of the socket that I described are similar, but the 'rear' pin is the one closest to the fender and the 'front' pin is the one closest to the engine, etc.
Roland
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QUESTION: I tried to jump the sensor, it still would not start. Any other suggestions. Thanks
AnswerDid you try switching out the relay for another one like it? Do you hear the fuel pump run when you turn the key to the run position? Have you checked for spark again. Do you still have only a 42 code? Did you check for voltage on the pins in the relay socket as I described in the first answer?
Roland
