For the last few weeks my car has been dying in idle once in a while, like once every day or two (I usually drive 50 - 100 miles a day, 5 days a week) and when I start it up I have to tap the gas to get it to start (fuel injection should not need this, and yes I ran cleaner the fuel system when I first noticed this). I have been meaning to get it checked out, but just been lazy about it. Well, something a little more serious happened and I have a problem I hope someone can help me identify or narrow down since I can't get to a mechanic until monday and it's bugging the hell out of me. Here it goes: (2000 Dodge Neon 93,000 miles)

I was making a hard left, wheel cranked as far as it would go, in a u-turn and my car died again. I restarted it and continued down the highway I was on. When I reached the next town a few miles down the road I placed my foot on the brakes and they were hard as hell, I basically had to place most of the force of my leg to get the car to slow down. When I got down to a 25MPH speed zone I am also noticing that my car will travel at this speed at idle now when before it was like 5 - 7MPH. I haven't had a chance to look at anything brakewise but I did check my fluids, all fine and besides these two things happening the car seems to running normally. It is stuck like this and I don't understand why? Someone mentioned a timing belt maybe? They also said a problem like that from the engine could cause the anti-lock brakes to stiffen as they have. The brakes work fine, just hard as hell to administer... basically have to stand up on them. Someone else said something about a tierod or half-shaft, but I'm more inclined toward the first idea since the brakes are working fine and the alignment is the same. Another person mentioned something about spark plugs needed replaced or checked and electrical system tested.

Two consecutive winters in a row I had the passenger side rim run into a curb on icy days and needed the rim replaced both times (damage to the axel? But this doesn't explain high idle speed) and about 6 months ago I hit a buck and had some body work done, but no damage to the wheels or frame... only body work was done.

I dunno, this sucks and I don't trust most mechanics and would like some idea of what I am talking about when I go to one in few hours. Any ideas?

Sounds like you're not getting any vacuum assist on the power brakes. And since a vacuum leak would also screw up your idle, I would look for that.

Good luck!

You hit it right on the head, it was the brake vacuum hose. It was disconnected, works great now!