Chrysler Repair: car shuts off when steering wheel moved, chrysler sebring coupe, chrysler sebring

Question
i have a 2001 chrysler sebring coupe lxi if i adjust the steering wheel all the way up, while car is started, the car shuts off.if while the car is off and the steering wheel is up, the car will not start, i have to move the steering wheel all the way down and the car starts fine. im not sure if this is a electrical problem or a safety feature.

Answer
Hi Tabatha,
I have not heard of a safety interlock related to the tilt of the steering column. My suspicion is that one of the five or six wires connected to the ignition switch is flakey such that when it is bent it looses its continuity. The easiest way to find it would be to remove the dash underpanel that is below the steering column, and the lower cover of the steering column proper. Then start and run the engine; then try to flex each wire attached to the ignition switch one at a time to see if you can ID the faulty wire that when flexed causes the engine to die/prevents it from running. If you can do that, then the wire can be spliced/repaired to correct the problem. You can observe the motion of the wires once you have those panel off, as you tilt the wheel. Also check that the wires where they enter the plug for the ignition switch are firmly attached to the plug. Shaking the wires one at a time should reveal the cause.
Roland