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Chrysler Sebring Ignition Problem

11 messages,  Last post on May 24, 2009 at 5:28 AM

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#2 of 11 Key won't Turn in Ingnition by sheronda Mar 14, 2008 (12:55 pm)
The key will not turn in my ingnition in my Crysler. We tried adjusting the steering wheel and moving it side to side but nothing will work. Can someone give me suggestions or probable causes? Replies to this message: tedebear (Mar 14, 2008 1:35 pm) vlao (Apr 21, 2008 7:24 pm) john18974 (Nov 29, 2008 8:11 am) khappy (May 22, 2009 7:55 am) tpet (May 23, 2009 3:06 pm) khappy (May 23, 2009 7:29 pm) and 1 more...
#3 of 11 Re: Key won't Turn in Ingnition [sheronda] by tedebear Mar 14, 2008 (1:35 pm)
Replying to: sheronda (Mar 14, 2008 12:55 pm) The only times I've seen that happen is when the ignition was turned off with the steering wheel cocked at an extreme angle and you had to turn it back slightly the other way to relieve the pressure before you could turn the key.   However, you indicated that you already tried that.
#4 of 11 Re: Key won't Turn in Ingnition [sheronda] by vlao Apr 21, 2008 (7:24 pm)
Replying to: sheronda (Mar 14, 2008 12:55 pm) Sheronda - We've had the problem you describe frequently with our 2001 Sebring. It was very frustrating until someone advised us that the key switch is very sensitive to dust (we live in the desert southwest, so there is an abundance of that). The advice is to tap the key with something hard (a screw driver handle, etc.) The "key" part of the instruction is to "tap", not hammer, or you might break the key off. This has worked for us every time. I understand you can also use a can of compressed air to blast into the key opening, but it's easier to keep a screw driver in the glove box than a can of compressed air. Good luck.
#5 of 11 Re: Key won't Turn in Ingnition [sheronda] by john18974 Nov 29, 2008 (8:11 am)
Replying to: sheronda (Mar 14, 2008 12:55 pm) Hello had this happen today on my wifes car. I used a screwdriver as was discussed in another post. The trick I found that was the easiest is as you are tapping on the the key turn the key towards the start position with gentle pressure. Worked like a charm!
#6 of 11 1998 Sebring Convertable will not start - no spark - no gas by tpet Apr 30, 2009 (2:22 pm)
I am supposed to sell my sister's car (1998 Sebring Convertable), but it will not start. There is no gas getting to the spark plugs and no spark either. I tried bypassing the shut off relay, but that made no difference. I removed the crankshaft sensor and when I attach it to my multimeter and pass a piece of steel back and forth across it, there is a change in resistance, so I think this part is good. The car was working before she parked it for the winter and then this happened. I have taken off the air intake to get to the back plugs and I had to remove a whole bunch of oil from the spark plug cylinders before I removed the plugs - because I wanted to clean the ends of the spark plugs. When her fiance removed the front plugs (I was not there) he did not remove the oil from the plug cylinders, therefore whatever was there - if any oil at all (which I am sure there was some) - went into the cylinders. I am sure that as a result of this happening, that it has nothing to do with it not starting. All fuses are good - I checked them with the ignition on - both inside the car (on the side of the dash) and under the hood (on the driver's side). I disconnected the gas line via a quick disconnect and cranked the engine and gas did come spewing out - so I am sure the fuel pump is working. I have read many, many posts and found that people had similar problems, but I could not find any solutions to this problem. I even took the fuse panel (under the hood in between two steel boxes) apart to make sure there were no corroded wires underneath. I cannot find any burnt wires anywhere - even by the egr valve (I did see that in a posting). I am at my wits end and have no idea of what to do. I cannot afford to pay for parts that will not fix the problem or pay a garage to fix the problem. I do know that the Service Engine light was always on - it had been that way since my sister bought the car and after bringing it back to the place where she bought it - more than once - they could not find out why the light was always on. Someone please help me - I apologize if there is a solution for this in all these threads, but I looked for hours and could not find anything. Even googling came up empty handed. There has to be a simple solution for this, I just don't know what it is. I also took the plug off the distributor and cleaned the connections as much as I could (I did see that in here somewhere) and plugged it in, removed it and repeated this a few times to make sure a good connection was being made. If anyone can help me, I would really appreciate it. My sister is in dire needs of cash - that is why she is selling this car. I has a 2.5 liter engine in it and it is a Canadian car (I live in Canada). Replies to this message: vampire87 (May 21, 2009 11:57 am)
#7 of 11 Re: 1998 Sebring Convertable will not start - no spark - no gas [tpet] by vampire87 May 21, 2009 (11:57 am)
Replying to: tpet (Apr 30, 2009 2:22 pm) hey i have the exact same car. i hope you read this it might help. i have read many forums to trying to figure this out. yesturday i started the car for the first time. our model of cars have a hard time with the ignition keys, somtimes they just stop recognizing the key so just have a new one programed to it, also ask a mechanic about recall id# 28912. also check your pump selenoid and your high and low air pressure. goodluck, and let me know how it goes thedgeneratehotmail.com my name is dan
#8 of 11 Re: Key won't Turn in Ingnition [sheronda] by khappy May 22, 2009 (7:55 am)
Replying to: sheronda (Mar 14, 2008 12:55 pm) I have a 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan that had the same problem. The only thing that worked for us was hitting the end of the key quite hard with a shoe (which I kept in the van all the time). It seemed to be worse on cold days too. After about a year of hitting it, it started not working anymore, and finally failed. We ended up calling a locksmith who came to the house and took it apart, greased up the individual....well I can't think of the name, but they are little things that fall into the key's grooves when you put the key in, anyway, we haven't had a problem since. He said that those "things" were getting stuck and when you hit the key with a shoe, you basically vibrate those down to where they should be, "shake them loose". After he lubricated them and loosened them up, they have worked fine. He told us if we could have driven the van to him, he would have done it for 25.00, but it was a little more than that since he came to us. I think only 40 or so. Very cheap way to fix the problem. I would suggest trying a locksmith (instead of a dealer) before you get stuck like we did. I hope this helps! Replies to this message: tpet (May 23, 2009 3:06 pm) khappy (May 23, 2009 7:29 pm) tpet (May 24, 2009 5:28 am)
#9 of 11 Re: Key won't Turn in Ingnition [khappy] by tpet May 23, 2009 (3:06 pm)
Replying to: khappy (May 22, 2009 7:55 am) Hello Sheronda:   Thank you for your suggestion. I am not sure if we have the same problem. I can insert my key and turn it to the start position and have the engine cranking over, but it won't start because of no gas or spark at the plugs. I did try hitting the key when it was in the ignition fairly hard with the palm of my hand and kept inward force on the key when trying to start the car, but still no success with the car actually starting. Please let me know if you were able to turn your key to the start position without hitting it or if you had to hit your key to drop the tumblers (I think that is what they are called) into place on your key so that you could then turn your key in the ignition to start your van. Replies to this message: khappy (May 23, 2009 7:29 pm) tpet (May 24, 2009 5:28 am)
#10 of 11 Re: Key won't Turn in Ingnition [tpet] by khappy May 23, 2009 (7:29 pm)
Replying to: tpet (May 23, 2009 3:06 pm) Hello,   I did have to hit my key in order to turn it. Thanks for the name of those things!! Tumblers, I will have to remember that. It does sound like we had a different problem. Sorry about that. I hope you can figure out what the problem is. Replies to this message: tpet (May 24, 2009 5:28 am)
#11 of 11 Re: Key won't Turn in Ingnition [khappy] by tpet May 24, 2009 (5:28 am)
Replying to: khappy (May 23, 2009 7:29 pm) No problem at all. I still appreciate the fact that you took the time to reply, thinking it might help. I hope I can figure it out as well. Thanks again.

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