Newby here but I have found all the real information is always found in the forums and with enthusiasts sooo....Here I am! I hope Y'all can help me!

Hello!
(I love V-bulletin btw, It feels like the snowmobile forums I hang out on!

Anyway....

My wife owns a '96 Sebring conv. with the 2.5 V-6.
She fires it up a few days back and as usual, puts it in gear before the starter even quits spinning!
Goes in reverse and backs out of the driveway.
She puts it in Drive and that was the last time the car has shown any life.

It's in the shop now but they can't seem to be able to figure it out either.

It DEFINITELY has spark and now also has a brand new fuel filter, spark plugs (that was fun) cap, rotor, wires and is also definitely getting fuel.

The crank and cams are all perfectly lined up as the back cam was 3 teeth off tdc on the belt when this work was started.

It will crank, spark, get fuel and then seem to try to run when you return the key to the run position (sometimes) but it never catches.

I'm old school...If it has spark and fuel it will at least backfire even if the timing is way off.

A buddy checked it with his code reader when this first happened and all it would read is something like "Unable to obtain TDC" or something similar...I never saw it.
Any suggestions or help would be welcomed and greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

 

I would almost say its a tranny issue stalling it out

 

How would that be tested?
I wondered about a neutral safety switch (or similar) too.
What's the test involve?
Thanks

 

"The crank and cams are all perfectly lined up as the back cam was 3 teeth off tdc on the belt when this work was started."

That's scary. Have you checked compression to make sure the valves aren't bent?

 

He did say he checked it and they were fine.
I worried about that too.

 

tranny issue as in the converter stalling it out when u put it in drive or reverse

 

"Unable to obtain TDC"


Sounds like it MIGHT be an issue with the Crank Pos Sensor... Tho, just for the sake of redundancy, you might want to check the position of the distributor against TDC.... to ensure it shows it is on #1... A timing light should be adequate for this...

The design of the engine suggests this is a waste of time, but if the rear cam was out by 3 before, who knows.... Checking the distributor is easier than it may seem. Been there, done that.

 

Well...
Update time I guess!

The Sebring is STILL in the shop

Items installed to attempt a fix.....

Fuel filter. $$
Spark plugs. $$$
New plug wires. $$$$$
New cap. $$$
New rotor. $
Crank Positioning Sensor. $$$

Items checked.......

Compression, (All are well within running parameters)
Timing, Again.
Pin check, Every wire to every sensor from the ECM.
Fuel pressure, @ 50 psi.
Great spark.
Ignition switch checks out fine.

The tech is completely baffled now.

I authorized him to install a new distributor (with a new Cam Sensor) but he is trying not to just throw parts at it which would increase the bill unless he is certain it will fix the issue.
He's now restorted to researching another online forum that the dealers use (not sure where) to get more advice from somebody who might have run into this before.

They've had the car for @ 3 weeks now and still NOT EVEN ONE BACKFIRE

We're stumped......HELP!

 

he did not try vary hard not to throw parts at t

Fuel filter. $$
Spark plugs. $$$
New plug wires. $$$$$
New cap. $$$
New rotor. $
Crank Positioning Sensor. $$$

 

lol... just glad it aint me!

It ocurrs to me... EVEN THO there is fuel PRESSURE it does NOT mean that the injectors are working...

Anybody check the fuses? If I recall there are injector fuses under the hood...
Has anybody tried spraying starting fluid into the intake while attemting to start?