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Dodge Neon Car Repair Questions and Answers

Question: 1998 Dodge Neon 2.0 mileage: 111,000. I replaced my head gasket 3 times all ready and this last time I installed a new cylinder head. At 37,000 miles, I started having overheating problems. I live in Phoenix, AZ and the temperature is 110 degrees every day. I found out my car overheats when the temperature is over 98 degrees outside. I replaced the cylinder head, radiator cap, new radiator, all hoses, temperature sensor, position sensor, O2 sensor, air filter and it is still overheating. I took the car to a computer diagnostic shop and the mechanic can't find any problem. All the water boils out of the radiator into the small reserve tank after I turn the engine off. Please help as my dealer can't find any problems and I have run out of money replacing parts.

Answer: We suggest that you first put a 50 to 50 mix of water to coolant in your radiator and then check to make sure the radiator fan is working properly. If this does not help, get an oversized heavy-duty radiator since you live in such a warm climate.

Question: 2002 Dodge Neon mileage: 45,252. My wife was driving down the freeway at 55-60 mph, the car started heating up on the gauge. She pulled it over, and called me. Upon inspection - both belts are on, all inside fuses are good; all under hood fuses are good. She had the a/c on while on the freeway. After letting it set for 3 hours, I pulled the radiator cap - it was full of water w/coolant, oil level was good, so was the trans fluid level. There were no leaks, either now, or before, the car does not use/leak oil, it's never overheated before, uses no fluids at all. However, after letting it set for the 3 hours, she started it and the temporary gauge didn't move past the 1/3 line, as it always ran that way before. She drove it 11 miles towards home, and the gauge did not go past the normal level, when we stopped at the stoplight near our home, I told her to put on the a/c and watch the temp gauge, we only had to drive 4 miles home, but by the time we got there the gauge was nearing the high heat line. After sitting still in the driveway, running with the a/c running, the car started going hot again. The car has 2 electric fans, however I did not see-hear them run, or turn on at all, is there a fuse that works them? I didnot find any such fuse, and I took each one out, both inside the car and inside the engine compartment - and upon inspection -all were good. What should I be looking for why when the engine is obviously overheating- do the electric fans not come on? What should I do, as we live in rural Arizona andit's dead of summer, the first time it wasdaylight at 104 degrees, driving home it was 88 degrees, why is it getting hot?

Answer: Yes, there is a fuse that controls the fans. There is also a power relay in the circuit. Check the fans themselves by jumping them with 12-volts to see if they operate.

Question: 1999 Dodge Neon mileage approx 70,000 miles. The other day my wife was driving the car and she said she suddenly lost power steering. She said she also smelled a burning smell soon after. I checked the Power steering fluid level and it is well within the range. It is not totally at full though. Is the problem she is describing due to a leak in the line? Or something worse. Can you give me an estimate as to what you think it may be?

Answer: Possibly some rain or snow somehow splashed up onto the drive belt for the power steering causing the belt to slip which would also result in the burning smell that your wife experienced. Check the serpentine belt and replace it if it appears worn. Also, check for proper belt tension.

Question: 1998 Dodge Neon mileage: 90,000. My son has put 10,000 miles on his Neon since buying it with a freshly replaced head gasket. Two months ago, it began episodically (sometimes it runs fine) losing power dramatically and running extremely rough. The roughness starts (sometimes) if you gun the engine a bit, and will frequently fix itself if you let the engine idle down for a few seconds. Took it to the dealer who said he had to replace the computer with a rather pricey upgrade, and lost the codes. Didn't solve it. Haven't taken it back yet Replaced the PVC valve, and a cracked exhaust donut on our own, as recommended by the dealer, which seemed to improve the episodic roughness, but now that's back. When running rough, the brakes have no power, so I suspect a vacuum problem. Since it sometimes runs just fine, I suspect a mechanically sticking something-or-other. Waddya think, and can you tell me where to look under the hood. Recently, it started overheating, and we found it about 1-2 quarts low of antifreeze. No known leaks. Oil looks okay. Engine runs nice and smooth except as noted above.

Answer: It sounds like the head gasket has failed again. If that is the case, be sure the head is re-machined flat.

Follow-up: The EGR may be sticking open. If you catch it in the act, remove the backpressure valve and with shop air, blow into the backpressure port of the EGR. Listen for the air when opening and closing the throttle blade. If you hear the air, replace the EGR. Is the check engine light on and an EGR solenoid ckt code present? The EGR is powered to the off position, so if the terminals are corroded the EGR will not turn off at idle, but with this cause, you should have a code and engine light. Joseph

Question: 1999 Dodge Neon  mileage: 84,000. I had the local Chrysler dealer replace the oxygen sensor after the "check engine" light came on. My daughter (the primary driver of the car) states that although the engine seems to run OK, the car now lacks the power it had before the check engine light came on. Is it possible that the replacement O2 sensor is not up to spec, possibly causing the engine to run lean (or rich)?

Answer: We doubt it. When an up stream oxygen sensor is faulty, it may cause an over-rich condition that produces more horsepower. This, of course, caused higher emissions. With the new oxygen sensor, this condition was corrected.

Question: 2000 Dodge Neon mileage: 64,000. Engine is running rough and at times, producing very little power. I took it to an authorized service dealer for diagnosis. They said the "upstream oxygen sensor" has failed and needs to be replaced. That sounded fine to me. Next, citing the mileage of the car, the service writer earnestly mentioned that the timing belt should be replaced. I understand the implications of a failed timing belt but I was rather surprised that it would need replacing at only 64,000 miles. Any thoughts?

Answer: In your owner's manual, it will tell you the mileage that is suggested for maintenance of various components on your car. 64,000 miles is about right for a timing belt.

Question: 2001 Dodge Neon  mileage: 35,000. My son let the transmission fluid get very low on his automatic transition neon. He did not tell me until it started slipping in third gear. We toped off the fluid level and all was fine for a while. Now it seems to slip going into 2nd and third gears even though the fluid level is fine. Eventually it goes into gear by letting up on the gas. What has happened and what is the cure?

Answer: When a transmission gets low on fluid and starts to slip, what is slipping is the clutch packs. When this occurs, the clutches wear out quickly. In this instance, you will need to remove the transmission and replace the clutch packs (transmission overhaul).

Question: 1998 Dodge Neon DOHC mileage: 84,000. Hi guys. I was changing my spark plugs today and when I pulled out one the old plugs, it was covered in oil. Is this normal? I don't know too much about cars but none of the other cylinders were like this? What do you think?

Answer: It would appear from what you described that the rings and/or valve stem seals have failed in the cylinder with the spark plug that was covered in oil.

Question: 1999 Dodge Neon  mileage: 81,000.  "Service engine soon" light is on. Code is "misfire".   From time to time car may accelerate or slow down without any reason.  Tachometer readings are hanging (500-3000 RPM) if on parking or neutral.  Smell of gas.  It happens 2-3 times a day during 20-30 minutes only.  No special conditions.  (Any weather.   Car maybe cold or hot.)  No problem other time.  Done: 1).  Plugs were checked.   One was replaced.  Engine was tuned.  It did not help.  2). Oxygen sensors were replaced.  No effect.  Problem is still here.  3). Wires were checked.  No problem was found.  What can it be?   PCM?  Maybe something else?

Answer: If you use an OBDII computer scanner it will pinpoint the cause for the misfire in your engine.

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