Expert: Roland Finston - 12/5/2011

Question
QUESTION: My chrysler 300m 1999 would turn over but would not start...i waited an hour went back all it would give me was repeated clicking...i figured it was the battery and replaced it...now its right back to turning over but no start.HElP?

ANSWER: Hi Rah,
Do you hear the fuel pump run for about 1 second when you turn the key to the 'run' poistion, which would be normal?
Try turning the ignition switch:" on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then watch the odometer window to see if the mileage reading is replaced by any 4-digit numbers preceded by P. If so, let me know what those are an that would be a clue as to why the engine won't start. Let me know which engine size (L) you have.
Roland

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the response the engine size is 3.5L. The code reading was p1864. Any ideas?

Answer
Hi Rah,
How about the sound of the fuel pump humming from inside the fuel tank for about 1 second? Do you hear that?
The code is 1684 rather than 1864, correct? If so, then that is simply reporting that the engine controller noticed that the battery was disconnected recently and no other code appear to be present.
If the fuel pump runs, you could test for spark which you can do yourself by removing a spark coil and its spark plug and then put the two togeter again. Then ground the threads of the plug on the cylinder head and have a helper crank it over while you watch for a spark to jump across the gap.
If the pump and spark check out, then about the only other possibility without any relevant fault codes that I know of would be that the egr valve is sticking ajar which leans out the mixture too much to allow for idle.
Roland