Car shutting off randomly or won't start!!!
Asked by Sebring08 Nov 29, 2018 at 07:31 PM about the 2008 Chrysler Sebring Limited Sedan FWD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
2008 Chrysler Sebring. Been trying to figure an issue out for over a
year...yes, a year. As I get a few bucks together I try something different.
Car stalls, won't restart or will restart or restarts itself or won't start at all.
Have replaced the PCM. There is a group of wires that I wiggled a few times
and the car started back up. In the picture I'm pointing to two connections
that slide into a V shaped holder. They were off, I slid them back on and the
car ran great for a day. They are still on there but car won't start now. Car
not giving codes that are helping identify the problem. Mechanic coming to
look at it again this weekend. Wondering if anyone would know what wire to
look for, what area. At one point Chrysler said the PCM didn't communicate
with the transmission. Does that mean there's a wire issue from the PCM to
the transmission wire? sensor? Not sure how that works. Chrysler took out
the aftermarket remote starter and security system and replaced the ignition
switch for a tune of $320 as they felt the car thought it was being stolen.
Didn't fix the issue. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm on
disability, I can't afford a new car but this is bringing on depression as I'm
isolated from family and events. Thank you!
9 Answers
Yes wiring issue. Break in a wire or massive corrosion. Corrosion can be under the insulation and you think it will conduct electricity, but in fact it is like a road block stopping the flow.
Short to the body somewhere...ground strap issue?
Clean up those connections by sanding them to bare metal and do voltage drop tests on negative and positive side of the system
You guys are awesome! Thank you SO very much. I will pass all these suggestions along to my mechanic!!!!
I appreciate the comment but I hope one of these is your issue. It is difficult diagnosing these scenarios over typed situations. We do our best and I enjoy fixing cars and helping others with their cars.
Oh anther thing the car does at times....when I try to start it, it sounds like something is aligning, like the noise you hear after putting a new ink cartridge into your printer and it lines itself up. Gas cap light is on and new cap doesn't resolve that issue. Code went from large leak to small after I played around with the same group of wires near the air canister. I hope I just have one issue that resolves all this. Thanks again.
So check engine light is on? What is the codes. This can lead to a resolution to your issue. Large evap leak? You probably was fiddling with purge valve harness around or on charcoal canister.
The check engine light came on with the gas cap light....the car has been having stalling issues before those lights came on. From memory I think one code was 078. I just have a small scanner from Walmart. Adv auto scanned it, said it was a large leak. Then I got it to a small leak. I will check the codes again tomorrow. I've had a smoke test done as well with no leaks.
I'm back! My car is running! The mechanic wanted to change the TIPM. I couldn't bring myself to putting more money into it if we weren't sure it was the issue. I thought there was something wrong with the wires going from the TIPM to PCM etc. He messed around with them and nothing happened. So there is a small box with relays in them next to the TIPM. He popped that open and wiggled one of the relays...car shut off. He took the relay out, squeezed the prongs tighter together, put it back in the car and the damn thing has been running ever since!!!!! All this friggin time it was a damn loose relay!!!! I was finally able to drive my car from VT to Long Island to see family!!! My gascap light and check engine light was found by a mechanic in L.I. ....apparently the car dealership left an evac clip disconnected. I'm not sure of the exact name but it was on the drivers side, by the passenger door, underneath the car. So I have lost my remote starter and security system, have a PCM that I will try to resell but I have a running car!!!!! Thank you everyone for your tips and advise. I what I have commented tonight helps someone out there.
