2001 Chrysler Sebring Distributor Assembly

AMH1981

MEMBER
2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING

2001 Chrysler Sebring

Ok! So I have had my car since Feb. '06 and I spent about $6000 on this car. I love my car and I have put a lot of money in the upkeeping of my car. However, I as well as my pockets are burnt out! Now my car is not running b/c I am told the distributor assembly needs to be fixed and for parts & labor the total would be around $636. I am wondering is that a reasonable price or can I get it cheaper elsewhere. I have come to find out that I have been ripped off a couple of times. And is it even my distributor assembly? My car will run for a few hours in a day then it will shut off and not start again until about a day or so later only to do the same thing! Also sometimes my radio won't play, my doors will not lock, and the lights on the inside will not come on. I get someone to fix the fuses for those parts but it will happen again. Can u advise me in any way? I'd highly appreciate it!

1 Reply

ZACKMAN

MECHANIC
4,202 POSTS

The radio, the door lock, and the courtesy light problem may possibly be related. The courtesy light is controlled by the door pin switches. If one of the switches is faulty, it may not turn on the light if the door is opened.

For the door lock to engage or disengage, the BCM sees the the position of the switch. If the driver door is open, and you try to lock the car, it may refuse to lock (for safety reason - locked out of the car), so if the driver door switch is faulty, it may refuse to lock. In my case, the lock solenoids are bad on three of the four doors, so the locks on these doors don't work automatically.

You may also have the power to the switch is being grounded (cut wire, maybe). That may be the reason the fuse keeps blowing every time you use the door lock.

The radio, I do believe that Chrysler use the same fuse for the radio (one of them) and the courtesy light.

As for your distributor, it is totally unrelated problem. If the car shuts off after a few hours of driving, and won't turn back on until it is cooled off, it sounds like the coil. Since you said "distributor", I take that you have the 6 cyl model, in which the coil is an integral part of the distributor.

$600 is about the right charge for parts and labor, but before you commit to the amount, please take your car to another place for a second opinion.