Description

Chrysler Sebring, Avenger, Cirrus 2000 Technical Manual

You’ve got a 2000 Sebring, Avenger, or Cirrus on the lift. Maybe you’re chasing a brake hydraulic leak, or the front suspension arm bushings are shot. You pull out an aftermarket repair sheet and find a torque spec for a control arm bolt that doesn’t match the actual fastener size. I’ve seen it happen—stripped threads, comebacks, wasted time. That’s why you need the actual factory documentation. This Chrysler Sebring, Avenger, Cirrus 2000 Technical Manual is a 244-page bound set of OEM part breakdowns and assembly procedures. No guesswork.

VIN Plate Decoding – Page 1

Page 1 lays out the full VIN plate decoding for these models. Country of origin, assembler, vehicle type, GVWR, line, series, body style, engine, check digit, model year, assembly plant—each position explained with codes. For the Sebring, Avenger, and Cirrus you’ll see line codes: U for Sebring LX/LXi, U for Avenger/ES, J for Cirrus (Mexico). Engine code N = 2.5L V6 SOHC 24V SMPI (EEB). If you’re sourcing parts from a salvage yard or ordering new, get the VIN right the first time.

Front Suspension & Drive – Group 2

Group 2 covers front suspension arms, struts, springs, and axle drive shafts. Figure 2-110 shows the front suspension arm and related parts with OEM part numbers—upper left and right control arms (MR162803, MR162804), upper arm nuts, control arm rods, bolts, bushings, crossmember. Every part broken down by line, series, body, engine, transmission, and trim. Need the left drive shaft? Figure 2-210. Right drive shaft? Figure 2-215. You get the exact exploded view and fastener count.

Service Brakes: ABS vs Non-ABS Lines

Group 5 covers all service brakes—front brakes (Fig. 5-110), rear brakes (Fig. 5-210), wheel hubs, power brake booster, master cylinder, hydraulic unit, and brake pedals. The manual separates front brake lines with ABS (Fig. 5-520) from those without (Fig. 5-510). Rear lines are Fig. 5-530. If you’re replacing a rusted brake line on a 2000 Cirrus, this is where you find the correct routing and fitting specs. Ignoring the difference between ABS and non-ABS lines will leave you with a soft pedal or a code.

What Does Group 8 Electrical Cover?

Group 8 is 30-plus pages of starters, alternators, distributor, modules, relays, sensors, switches, horns, battery tray, lamps, and wiring diagrams. The relay charts (Fig. 8-525) are gold when diagnosing a no-start on an Avenger. Wiring sections are broken into engine-related (Fig. 8-1205), instrument panel (Fig. 8-1405), and body & accessories (Fig. 8-1505). Spark plugs, cables, and coils are Fig. 8-1905. If you’re chasing an intermittent electrical gremlin, the factory wiring schematics save you hours of probing with a test light.

2.5L V6 Engine – Cylinder Head and Timing Belt Specs

The 2.5L V6 (EEB) engine section is Group 2.5L6. It includes cylinder head (Fig. 2.5L6-210), cylinder block, crankshaft, pistons, camshafts and valves, timing belt and cover (Fig. 2.5L6-610), engine oiling (Fig. 2.5L6-710), and manifolds. Timing belt replacement on this engine is critical—interference design. The manual shows belt routing, tensioner specs, and cover fastener locations. Do not rely on a generic belt diagram; one tooth off means bent valves.

Check Your Torque Specs Before You Start

Every fastener in this manual has an OEM torque specification listed with the parts. For front suspension upper arm bolts, the flange nut torque is M10. For the brake hydraulic unit, the line fittings have specific torque to avoid leaks. The manual also includes coolant recovery system (Fig. 7-310), drive belts and pulleys (Fig. 7-520), and transmission oil cooler lines (Fig. 7-610). For manual transmission models, see Manual Transmission documentation for clutch and flywheel specs. And if you’re working on an automatic, check the transmission oil cooler line routing in Fig. 7-610.

Aftermarket manuals often skip the VIN decoding, relay charts, and ABS line variations. This is Chrysler’s own production data—no third-party interpretation. The 244 pages are scanned from the factory binder, not a reprint of a reprint. You get the same information a dealer tech had in 2000. For deeper cross-referencing, consider Chrysler Cirrus Stratus Breeze VIN Plate Decoding Manual and Chrysler Cirrus Stratus Breeze Repair Manual 1995-2000. If you need later-model coverage, Chrysler Sebring Stratus 2002 Service Manual – 2854 Pages OEM is available. And for other transmissions, Manual Transmission covers the NV350 and similar units.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this manual cover the 2.0L or 2.4L engines?

No. This 2000 Technical Manual only covers the 2.5L V6 (EEB) for Sebring, Avenger, and Cirrus. For 2.0L or 2.4L models, look at the corresponding factory service manual.

Are wiring diagrams included?

Yes. Group 8 Electrical contains multiple wiring sections: engine, instrument panel, body & accessories. Each section includes connector views and wire colors.

Can I use this for a 2001 Sebring?

No. This is specific to the 2000 model year. The VIN code for year is Y (2000). Later years have different relays, ABS systems, and engine calibrations.

Does it show torque values for brake caliper bolts?

Yes. Brake caliper and bracket bolt torque are listed in the figure callouts. Check Group 5 Service Brakes for the specific part numbers and torque.

If you’re tired of guessing and want the same OEM specifications that Chrysler issued to its dealerships in 2000, Access the Factory Manual. It’s the only way to be sure your suspension bolts are torqued correctly and your brake lines are routed per factory engineering. Don’t trust your comebacks to a copy of a copy.