I have a 99 sebring convertable 4 cyl. The car will start fine and run for about 10 minutes then it dies. The strange thing is that when I turn the key to restart it there is nothing. Like the battery is dead. If I push the gas peddle about half way while turning the key all of a sudden the car cranks. It will keep cranking until I release the gas peddle. If the car is sitting with the key forward the fuse box is clicking and the throttle position sensor is hissing. I unplugged it and the fuse box made a bunch of noise. I have a CEL but no way of getting it somewhere to pull codes. If the car sits for 2 hours it will crank up normally (without pressing the gas). Fuel pump primes,spark is there etc...any clues? Im thinking its the ECU or the throttle position sensor has shorted.

 

no-one....I did some research and it could be teh crank sensor. I just dont understand why the fuse box would be clicking and why teh car will only crank when the gas pedde is pressed. Ill keep looking.

 

Internal short in the Throttle Position Sensor. If any sensor on the 5V circuit does that it will take the PCM BUS down.

 

thank you TNtech. I was on the right track. I was hoping somone would verify my thoughts. I was looking into it this morning and started unplugging sensors and the shorting stopped when the TPS was unplugged. Perhaps you can tell me if the sensor directly under the TPS is the IACV or something else. I cleaned the throttle plate and sprayed for vacuume leaks while checking the EGR valve. Other than a filthy air filter the car seems ok. BTW this is not my car...I drive a HONDA....lmao thanks again for your help.

 

Yeah that's the IAC motor.

 

Well I changed the TPS and it still died. Im thinking its the IACV because it still did the buzzing and clicking. I figure both might be bad tho. After working on it she told me that she had hit a huge bump and thats whenthis started. The owner of the car dont have the money to fix it anyway so it can sit. Thanks for the help.