I have a 1998 sebring convertible 2.5L V6 that i changed the head gaskets and timing belt on. after putting the car back together i cannot get it to turn over. i did get it to crank once and than shut it off after about 4 or 5 seconds because it idled up to 4000 rpms and i had a coolant leak from the heater hoses i needed to fix. i know about cars enough to replace those parts without a problem. but is there a special tool or diagnostic tool i need for that car to get the timing right?

It sounds like the timing is retarded. Not that familiar with that engine. Should be DOHC engine, with one timing belt? If so, sounds like timing is retarded one dog on belt.

You first have to remove the ignition coils or plug wires and then remove the bolts holding the cover to the cylinder head. Discard old gasket. Clean gasket channel of any oil and install new gasket to cover taking care during assembly not to disturb gasket when placing cover back on cylinder head. The rear gasket is much harder to change as the upper plenum must be removed to access this cover. You should have some knowledge of engines if you are going to atempt this repair on your own

put in time and remove valve cover, front engine cover, timing belt ,exhaust at manifold, intake manifold and remove head bolts, pull head clean all surfaces replace gasket after head ck for cracks follow specs on bolts and put back together in a shop in would take about 4 to 6 hrs to do .

double check your timing, check fuel supply for pressure and deliver to fuel rail.

One common issue when a shadetree mechanic changes the head gasket is that during the removal of the timing chain/belt and it's corresponding sprockets that the camshaft and crankshaft timing chain/belt sprockets are allowed to turn relative to one another if not properly indexed before reassembly. This causes the valve timing to be quite off once everything is put back together.
Checking to make sure that compression is proper in the engine should resolve whether or not this is your issue.

personnally i recommend a belt change at 60,000,the reason is,i have, like many others, have had a belt snap,and the makers do not pay the bill.maybe to some as excesive,but have you seen the bill for a new head etc....?

Yes. Yopu must remove the plenum, which means a new gasket.

The plug wires go down into the valve covers. The circular gaskets there often leak, so I would replace the wires and gaskets around them at the same time because it is all exposed.

sounds like timing belt is not lined up.

You need to pull the timing belt off,Line the marks as required,Reinstall timing belt.


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Throttle position sensor possibly