Hey, I have my sisters old 1996 sebring convertible right now. I'm trying to fix it up and have done a few things to help it run better.

I have:
Put fuel injector cleaner in
Changed the spark plugs

Problem: The idle is really rough and bounces down to 500rpm and upto 1000rpm almost dying at times below 500rpm. It has roughly 90,000 miles (odometer light won't show up) and has had only basic maintence minus a computer and alternator being replaced.

Problem 2: Loud noise in front left tire that sounds like a bad strut but it was replaced. I believe this was recalled?

I saw that a vacuum line recall problem occured and can effect idle. What I'm wondering is should I do this first or try a distributor and cap first (easiest). I'm trying to get it ready for my gf so she can drive it till her parents can get her a car. If I could fix the rough idle (fine above 2000rpm) and the clunking noise in the left that is possible a recall, I will be golden.

Also, how hard is it to change a roof out? They have new ones on ebay for like $180, would this work?

 

change the plugs will be a pain in the *** if u have never done it b4. The rpm deal is either a vac leak,line plenum gsket egr ne place that air can get inside the engine or an IAC motor issue. The recalls u are talking about i have never seen them b4 give me the last 8 of your van and i will run it on chrysler computer and see what u have outstanding. Changing the roof out will be fun as well I would not even try it and i have been working on chryslers for 11 years. see how much a glass DR or some one like that would charge u.

 

I already did the spark plugs, it wasn't that bad and didn't help. We put some rtvish stuff on the gasket to make sure it doesn't leak either. I'm almost certain it is a vacuum line now or possibly the distributor since it was probably never changed.

The recalls were ones on the NHTSA gov website.
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr...callsearch.cfm

The last 8 digits of the vin are: TT321668

Here is one of the three ball joint ones it lists:
Make / Models : Model/Build Years: CHRYSLER / SEBRING 1995-2000
DODGE / AVENGER 1995-2000
EAGLE / TALON 1995-1998
Recall Number: 00V421002 Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE. Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE. Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 21, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

 

here are the recalls done and no open ones
750 FRT LWR CNTL ARM BALL JOINT December 8, 1997 March 5, 1998 752 ENG COOLANT/CORE PLUGS March 16, 1998 August 24, 1998 812 CONV. TOP COVER INST. LABEL April 20, 1999 April 22, 1999 B22 THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE July 29, 2002 August 30, 2002 C45 FLOOR SHIFTER IGNITION/PARK INTERLOCK June 11, 2004 August 2, 2004

and its a ball joint not a strut different part.
did u make that vac leak after or b4 u changed the plugs
people have been known to do that with that many miles on it the lines are brittle and break easy.
odometer light won't show up is a cluster printed ckt board
yeah u have a vac leak the distrubitor will not make it idle high and low it will make a missfire

 

The vacuum leak was already present.

So the failing ball joint causing the clunk will not be fixed by the dealer with the nthsa recall? Because looking elsewhere I have found this to be the only reason for the clunk (struts and sway bar have been replaced)

 

well it possable but the recall has been done onece before and the recall was not for a noise it was failure if i remmeber right.
U might be able to have them replace it under warranty never know unless u ask if in fact thats is what is causing the noise to.
Well search for the vac leak here is an old school way of doing so get a can of break cleaner or throtle body cleaner and start spraying around short little sprays all over the intake area if the rpm changes when u spray then u are in the right area.

 

Yeah I'm not sure if the recall work was ever done or not. My sister got it used about 4 years ago and it is registered under my dads name. So any notices would have not showed up to her.

 

what i posted to u 2 posts ago showed that recall being done
750 FRT LWR CNTL ARM BALL JOINT December 8, 1997 March 5, 1998

 

Well today the check engine light came on and gave me a random cylinder misfire. So possibly distributor then, the idle is still really rough I put a video of the tac in park so you can see if I find a place to host it.

 

Here is the video, you can see why it is kinda scary when it almost dies and surges because it will pull a little bit on you if you aren't solid on the brake (which at lights is dangerous).
http://s160.photobucket.com/albums/t...19-07_1315.flv