99 Sebring Convertible won't start

Tiny
DAVMARTI
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 ALL OTHER MAKES ALL OTHER MODELS
I have a 1999 Sebring Convertible that randomly won't turn over at all when I try to start it. Here are the symptoms:

1) When it happened last night after work (45 degrees, sunny) the headlights, dashboard and interior lights worked fine but the radio did not.
2) No one can start the car by "jumping it" - AAA guy and dealer failed also.
3) The dealer couldn't figure out the problem either after 3 weeks of trying 8-9 months ago. Once when I went to pick the car up from the dealer, they drove the car around for me, turned the car off, but when I went to drive it home it didn't start - so they pushed it back inside!
4) Not sure if this is a red herring, but I noticed last night that the steering wheel wasn't locked but am not sure if this was normal or not. I tried to get it to lock, to no avail.
5) Don't say the battery - every new person to look at wants to change it - they've done it twice! No more!
6) When I don't have this issue and it's been at least 6-8 months since it happened last, the car runs like new.
7) At one point the dealer was saying that it somehow looked like a seat belt issue, but a few weeks later they didn't seem so sure. I do not have power seat belts.
8) I have a 6 cylinder 2.5L engine
Any Ideas?
Wednesday, February 8th, 2006 AT 10:13 PM

2 Replies

Tiny
PEPPERMRJ
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,158 POSTS
Intermittent electrical problems are a PITA.
Does this usually happen while it is hot and running or after it has sat for a while?
Standard shift or automatic?

I would be looking at either the neutral safety switch or the clutch safety switch.
A crank position sensor is another possibility. They Seem to fail while hot and running tho.

Good hunting and let us know.
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Sunday, February 12th, 2006 AT 12:38 PM
Tiny
MARYLIPSKI
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I have the same issues. Once in a while, it will start if I put it in neutral. Lately however (and very sporadically). It won't start unless I leave it sit overnight. It only seems to happen if I have several start and stops during the day. If I go to work and leave. It's fine.

For real though, if ya just leave the darned thing overnight and go back the next day, it'll work just fine! Someone suggested the neutral safety switch. This switch is on the transmission. Please let me know if you've resolved this, and how!
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Friday, March 3rd, 2006 AT 8:28 AM

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