Purchased car on ebay three years ago. No record of accident but looks like it was in an accident. Problem began after a heavy rain when car parked outside. Service engine light comes on, car starts and dies several times, then wont't start for anywhere from an hour to a day or two. No dealer able to find prob. Or get it to throw a code. Problem seemed to disappear last year when we moved to ca and parked car in garage. Then it returned once. Had it towed to dealer and he was unable to find source of prob. Or get it to repeat the problem. Finally got one computer replaced. Brought the car home and it has repeated the problem a few times. Now it is turning on the security light as well as the service engine light, then, suddenly, while I am driving, the guages quit working. I have no idea how fast or how far I am going. This has happened twice this month, both times when we were on a long trip. There seems to be no real correlation of circumstances that could be causing this problem that we can find other than possible moisture relationship. Had to drive from lake tahoe to orange county with no speedometer two weeks ago. It had rained heavily and the car was parked outside. Then it magically "mended itself" during the week and we took it from orange county to palm springs on may 21st. The guages went out shortly after we left home and came on "magically" after we purchased gas in palm springs. Date listed below is most recent. This has been going on intermittently for three years. Has been to dealers in alabama and orange county. I really can't say how many times it has failed, but probably around 30.
1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible electrical complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 19 of 19, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Odometer and tachometer stop and start functioning intermittently. I understand this is a known and common probelm with this year/model. Why won't chrysler recall and repair this obvious defect in the car?
While driving horn failed. Consumer took vehicle to the dealership on june 2004. Dealership fixed it, but three days later horn failed again. Technician disconnected the horn, and stated there was short circuit in the front air bags. To fix the horn dealer needed to replace the air bag mechanism at consumer's expense of $1,700.
Electronic gear selection indicator, electronic odometer, and tach. Guage do not work. Have to guess what gear vehile is in. Never works when car is started, but about 50% of time it will start working after driving for 10-15 minutes.
Electrical system in car has totally failed. Nothing on the dashboard works properly anymore. The board has been replaced once at a cost of $300 plus over $6,000 in various repairs.
In short, my '97 sebring convt. (86,000 mi) is on its 3rd starter, needs a new fuel gauge & switch to light fog lamps (problem for va. Safety insp.). Also tach, speedometer, & other gauges have stopped functioning temporaily while car is moving.
"electronic" odometer and other dashboared components failed intermittently while driving. Dealer diagnosed that the printed circuit board failed, and advised it was a common occurrence.
This car is garbage! I have had water leaks, had to replace complete fabric interior! The battery light now refuses to go off along with the engine light. I have gone through 4 batteries in a year, have replace the alternator and I still have problems. Not one shop, along with a dealer, can understand why this car will not run properly. The dealer who sold me the car told me it was too late for him to do anything about it. I also have the same problem as everyone else with the seat belt, drivers side. It no longer connects together. Dealer who sold me car stated the car was a 6 cylinder as does my title, found out recently that car is only 4 cylinder.
My local dealer replaced the subject computer at a cost to me of $300. This was the result of a "good will" extension of the manufacturers warrantee. Several other owners of these cars have had this computer fail.
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