i have a 98 neon and its not going anywhere. i need some input on what others think is wrong with it. everything was just fine before it started cutting out on me as if it had bad gas in it. for one day this thing would give me fits on cutting out. after that it stopped the sputtering but it was harder the crank. it being fuel injected im not suppost to have to pump the gas to get it cranked but i was having to in order to get it going. once going it did just fine except if i cut the compresser on for any reason i could feel a small jump in the engine while driving it. then it go where in order to get it started i would have to disconnect the battery in order to get it started again. i have noticed that the lower the fuel was the harder it was to start.
before i would disconnect the battery , i could take the spark plug out and it would show no fire at all. but when reconnected it, it would start meaning there is fire going to the plugs. someone suggested that it may be the crank sensor going bad but i took it out and had it tested and they told me that it was still good.
the last thing that happened was when i was driving it, it just died on me. it has not been cranked sense. it just wont start. i can take the fuel line off and turn on the switch . it will then shoot about half a cup of gas out but thats all till i turn the switch off and back on again.
my brother checked it out for me. his dinostics machine says there is nutting wrong. he checked all the fuses ,that he can find ,and none is bad. he says there is no fire going to the coil pack at all.
could this be a bad fuel pump?
or does any one know of anything else i can check?
im limited on finances as it is and i sure dont want to just start replacing things. that could really cost me.
and also im not where i can just get someone to pick it up and put it in the shop.
if any of you good people might can give me some advice i would very much appreciate it... thank you.. reba

how about helping a lady here you'll, cam sensor?

First - No spark to the coil has nothing to do with a bad fuel pump. That said, the fuel pump (while it might be a problem) isn't your only problem.

You may have a bad coil, that's about the only thing I can think of offhand, and the most likely problem. I'd get one from a JY and save yourself some money if that ends up not being the problem.

Also check your plug wires, sounds like they weren't on tight before or they're bad.

thanks darien99
i will be sure to try your advice first before i do anything else. i will let you know if it works or not. i sure hope you are right. i just priced a fuel pump... wow.. think i need to buy an older car.. seems things were more simple when you had a 4 ballel with 8 cylenders. at least the parts was alot cheeper... thanks

If you are getting no spark to the plugs: the problem can be either bad wires, a bad coil pack, cam sensor, or crank sensor. You've already checked out the crank sensor.

A few notes on the cam sensor: It's located on the driver's side end of the engine just below the valve cover on the end of the cam shaft , and held on with four bolts. Engine oil, if it gets by the camshaft bearing and seal, can coat the end of the camshaft causing the camshaft sensor to fail to read the timing marks. If it looks oily around that sensor, then remove it and clean the area off.

Now that you know how much a fuel pump goes for, you might consider obtaining a replacement gas tank from the junk yard ($30-$40). It is actually easier to replace the tank with a fuel pump already installed as to replace the fuel pump will require that you remove the tank from your car anyway.
Removal of the tank is simple - 2 bolts hold the straps on, 4 screws for the filler tube, a quick disconnect fuel line, and wiring connector for the pump.

Start with the PVC valve first. I had the same type of problem and had the valve changed and it started working normally again. Did all the things you tried - disconnecting the battery and it would work fine, etc. The next logical step would be the fuel filter... but the cheapest place to start is the valve.

i have a 98 neon and its not going anywhere. i need some input on what others think is wrong with it. everything was just fine before it started cutting out on me as if it had bad gas in it. for one day this thing would give me fits on cutting out. after that it stopped the sputtering but it was harder the crank. it being fuel injected im not suppost to have to pump the gas to get it cranked but i was having to in order to get it going. once going it did just fine except if i cut the compresser on for any reason i could feel a small jump in the engine while driving it. then it go where in order to get it started i would have to disconnect the battery in order to get it started again. i have noticed that the lower the fuel was the harder it was to start.
before i would disconnect the battery , i could take the spark plug out and it would show no fire at all. but when reconnected it, it would start meaning there is fire going to the plugs. someone suggested that it may be the crank sensor going bad but i took it out and had it tested and they told me that it was still good.
the last thing that happened was when i was driving it, it just died on me. it has not been cranked sense. it just wont start. i can take the fuel line off and turn on the switch . it will then shoot about half a cup of gas out but thats all till i turn the switch off and back on again.
my brother checked it out for me. his dinostics machine says there is nutting wrong. he checked all the fuses ,that he can find ,and none is bad. he says there is no fire going to the coil pack at all.
could this be a bad fuel pump?
or does any one know of anything else i can check?
im limited on finances as it is and i sure dont want to just start replacing things. that could really cost me.
and also im not where i can just get someone to pick it up and put it in the shop.
if any of you good people might can give me some advice i would very much appreciate it... thank you.. reba

Hello: If the spark plug wasn't grounded when you tested it, it won't show any spark. I've found out that on cars like this, have a dignostic computer hook to it and see what codes the computer shows. This will give you an excellent starting point. try to find a mechanic that has one and is good at interpretig the codes, because one malfunction of one part can cause several codes to show up and also make the car at really crazy. I had a 97 neon that wouldn't idle, speedometer wouldnt work and the check engine light stayed on. I had so many people tell me to try this, and try this and try this. After all to that, an up to date mechanic read the codes and after a few simple test found out that my speedometer gear had broken. this cause the computer to go into Default mode and therefore the engine wouldn't idle, but would run fine, and the check engine light came on. After replaceing the speedometer gear. The speedometer worked, the check engine light went out and the car would idle again

hope this helps !! Kool Aid

I think your car needs it, I would get an estimate then decide if it is worth it.