Will not crank or click, no warning lights display

MRBARNARD

MEMBER
2006 CHRYSLER SEBRING
2.7L
V6
2WD
AUTOMATIC
86,000 MILES

My car listed above convertible, needed radiator replaced, which I did myself over a few weeks. I disconnected the battery.

Finally got the job done, reconnected battery, started car to see if any leaks. It started right away and ran fine. Shut off car. Half hour later, try to re-start and it just 'clicks' like a low battery. Waited a few minutes, then it is completely dead, no response. I brought out my battery charger, the meter showed it drawing 10 amps while charging. A couple hours later, I return, the charger shows that the battery is now fully charged.

What happened: The interior lights light up as normal when the door is opened. What does not happen: no display to check the idiot lights, no response from trying to start the car (won't click or crank).

I again disconnected the battery, hoping to possibly reset the computer, but the results are the same.

Does anyone have an idea why a fully-charged battery after re-connection (had been disconnected for two weeks) would cause the warning lights to not display, the ignition to not work at all (no clicking, no spinning, no response) after it had started and run just a few hours earlier?

6 Replies

94 TRANSAM

MECHANIC
680 POSTS

My first suggestion would be to check your ground wire from the battery.

Computer controlled vehicles have circuits everywhere and the computer controls everything. This being said you must have a good ground from the battery to the body, frame and motor.

You will need a multi-meter and set it to ohms. Put one lead on the neg battery post not the cable. Then touch the other lead to the body anywhere, the motor anywhere on the block its self and anywhere on the frame. You should read 0.04 ohms. If it is any higher than that the ground is bad and must be either cleaned or the connector replaced if the connection issue is between the wire and connector.

If you find a bad reading for example to the frame. Move the lead on the battery to the connector that goes to the frame and then put the other lead on the frame. If it reads the same as to the battery the issue is likely the connector to frame. If it reads 0.04 then the issue is wire to connector and must be fixed.

Here is a guide to help you out:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

Rich

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Wednesday, February 5th, 2020 AT 6:53 PM

TOUGHDIVER

MECHANIC
224 POSTS

Hi,

It could be a poor power and ground cable circuit. The battery cables could be rusted and corroded. Check the ground cable at the G100 ground. The Ground Cable from the battery to the strut tower bolt make sure it has a clean tight connection. The cable wire can corrode inside the insulation of the cable check for green powder. This can cause a voltage drop in the electrical system and will cause faulty circuits. I'm attaching Repair Guides, Wiring Diagrams, Solenoid test procedure and Schematics below. Power Distribution Center is located in the left front corner of the engine compartment, just behind the battery. Check them out and let us know if it was helpful. If you need more information we will get it for you.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked

Thank you
Joe T.

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Wednesday, February 5th, 2020 AT 8:31 PM

MRBARNARD

MEMBER
10 POSTS

Thanks. The car is still not running (I had a medical emergency that slowed me down.) The engine now turns over, but slowly and without firing. I thought it was the battery had died from sitting for so long, so replaced it. Even with a brand new fully-charged battery, it turns over slowly and after a few cranks, the battery is drained. It never fires.

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Friday, June 12th, 2020 AT 8:08 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,355 POSTS

Hi,

If it is turning slowly and draining the battery, do me a favor. Check to see if the battery terminals are getting hot after cranking. The starter may be the issue and drawing too much amperage.

Let us know.
Joe

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Sunday, June 14th, 2020 AT 8:30 PM

MRBARNARD