2000 Chrysler Sebring Convertible - No Crank, No Click, No Start

2000 Chrysler Sebring Convertible. Forgive my ignorance in some area, I am not
experienced with cars in the slightest. I have only gotten to as far as I’m at now by
googling my symptoms for a very long time with no luck on a solution.

Symptoms Before No Crank/No Start:

Dies while idling.
Sometimes it would crank longer than normal before it eventually start.
“ABS” light on (I don’t think this is related)
“Trac off” on ( I don’t think this is related)

Symptoms After No Crank/No Start:

Turning key - no sound, no crank, no clicking, all inside electricals turn on including
radio.
same symptoms for park, neutral, and all gears.

Now I checked fuse 8 (20a), it looks fine. but to be sure I swap it with several
surrounding 20a fuses, no change.  

I checked the ASD relay and Starter relay. Swapped them around with the fan relays
(identical part number) many times with no change.

I am getting a spark.

Heres where this start getting specific….. Shorting out the starter causes the gear
motor to spin, but doesn’t actually turn it on fully or crank. However, pulling the plastic
case from the starter relay and shorting it causes the starter to crank. The engine does
not turn over still.

While these test were being performed the key was in the fully forward position  for
example the four positions, I believe, are acc-off-run-start (I am unsure if this is
accurate or not). I also attempted manually tripping both the ASD relay and the Starter
relay simultaneously to perhaps influence some fuel to be directed to wherever it might
need to go. this did not work.

Now then, I sprayed starter fluid in whilst manually tripping the Starter relay, and it will
start up briefly. Very weak mind you, and it just dies out as fast as it is coming in.

Things I have not tried:

Removing battery terminals for attempting a hard reset, mainly due to the very
inconvenient battery location.

Bypassing the Neutral Safety Switch located in the transmission.

I don’t know how or have the gauge to check fuel pressure.

I have not attempted to manually spin the crankshaft (I think thats what it’s called) with
a socket wrench. I did try to tug on the belt to see if it would easily turn by hand but it
was stiff.

I have not tried installing a new Ignition Key/Switch. (I assume that involves resetting or
reconfiguring some sort of securty or controller device so I don’t just get locked out by
the alarm anti theft stuff.) If it is just a simple drop in replacment type install then I would
like to know that as well.


What I really need is someone to chime in and let me know what and how I should
check in order to rule out and narrow down my possibilities. Replacing things one by
one is not an option for me until I have exhausted every option that requires little to no
spending. I don’t mind buying little things if I need them to test, but purchasing an entire
starter, for example, just to perform a ‘trial and error’ test is the kind of thing I’m trying to
avoid for now.

I want to thank you for your time and thank you for any replies in advance. I naturally
depend very much on my vehicle, and need it fixed as soon as possible.