Hello,
i have just got a 1999 neon about 3 weeks ago for $1850..
The car is in pretty good condition, i think...
it has 122, 000+ miles on it and i bought it from 1st owner.
The check engine light has turned on about a week ago...
I went to procare & do a diagnosis (cost $70) :<
they said it is "EGR valve circuit malfunction" & would cost about $300+labour.
Can anyone please tell me what I should do? I mean like should I replace that stuff? or Can I just leave it like that? When I ask ppl from procare, they says nothing will happen except for the fact that check engine light will be on all the time.. They says it is better to replace, though. & I am not sure if I made the right decision to buy this car... with this price since I read on some posts that this series of neons only worth $500 & some of them said they got for FrEE...

Thank you.

hmm, you shoulda went to your local autozone for a free diagnosis they hook up the OBD II scanner in the parking lot...

reset the code...drive a bit to see if the code returns...

then if it's the same code, well , you can try to clean the carbon deposits w/in that system to see if it'll free up the valve.

worse case scenario~ gonna haveta replace that part

just watch for engine temps as this has to do w/ keeping the combustion temps down to prevent NOx...

the only worry you should have is emmisions. but other then that alot of people on here just buy a block off plate and remove it

hmm, you shoulda went to your local autozone for a free diagnosis they hook up the OBD II scanner in the parking lot...

reset the code...drive a bit to see if the code returns...

then if it's the same code, well , you can try to clean the carbon deposits w/in that system to see if it'll free up the valve.

worse case scenario~ gonna haveta replace that part

just watch for engine temps as this has to do w/ keeping the combustion temps down to prevent NOx...

can you please tell me how to clean the valve?
is it the valve or is there a electronic circuit?
i found that valve for $91 on a website...
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y14/zxcvasdf/B7010148270DEL.jpg
I am not sure that is the part I need... Please have a look at the picture..

Thank you

You would replace it as a set...the EGR valve and transducer. You can pull it off and clean it with some type of solvent and see if it helps, but usually it's the transducer that goes bad.

A non-working or bad EGR valve will affect your gas milage, so thats something to think about. If you don't have emissions testing where you live, then you can block it off, but you will get the CEL.

searh seafoam for more help in cleaning carbon deposits...

You would replace it as a set...the EGR valve and transducer. You can pull it off and clean it with some type of solvent and see if it helps, but usually it's the transducer that goes bad.

A non-working or bad EGR valve will affect your gas milage, so thats something to think about. If you don't have emissions testing where you live, then you can block it off, but you will get the CEL.
Hello,
Is the part in the picture is the one I need to buy:????
I found on some websites that EGR reduce performance...
Can I just remove it? & can you tell me how?

Thank you

Hello,
Is the part in the picture is the one I need to buy:????
I found on some websites that EGR reduce performance...
Can I just remove it? & can you tell me how?

Thank youYes that would be what you would need to buy. The black part is the transducer and the other is the EGR valve.

The EGR does not reduce performance on the neon, don't know about other cars though. You can block it off with a kit, but you will also have the CEL for a non-working EGR...Code 32!

i thought there was a way to get around the check engine light if you connected a resistor into the circuit????

i thought there was a way to get around the check engine light if you connected a resistor into the circuit????That reduces the amount of times it comes on, but it will still come on every now and then.

I went to procare again today and ask them if they could replace that part if I bought it online... they said they can't.. & they said it is how they make money...
I will have to give them the labour charges anyways, even if i bought the parts from them,... Can't understand why they seems to be mad at me..
They said I could replace myself if I want, but CEL will be on even if i replaced EGR since it was not reset..
Is there any way to reset CEL myself?

Thank you very much!

I went to procare again today and ask them if they could replace that part if I bought it online... they said they can't.. & they said it is how they make money...
I will have to give them the labour charges anyways, even if i bought the parts from them,... Can't understand why they seems to be mad at me..
They said I could replace myself if I want, but CEL will be on even if i replaced EGR since it was not reset..
Is there any way to reset CEL myself?

Thank you very much!You know, I can't stand when I hear/see a shop trying to take someone for their money.

You can replace it and reset the PCM by either pulling the 20a fuel pump fuse from the PDC or disconnect the negative battery cable for 10-15 minutes.

I take off the black part and see what is in there..
It looks like nothing wrong... I mean. i don't see anything blocking the way or sth like that...
The other part is too hard to take off.. there are so many obstructions in the way.
I then reset the PCM, but,.. CEL come back on after a while...
I will post the picture of my EGR valve next time.
Thank you very much for your help.

You know, I can't stand when I hear/see a shop trying to take someone for their money.

You can replace it and reset the PCM by either pulling the 20a fuel pump fuse from the PDC or disconnect the negative battery cable for 10-15 minutes.

You won't be able to tell if the transducer (black part) isn't working. You will need some extensions to get to the EGR valve.

which is Y i suggested to clean the carbon deposits... search seafoam or deep creep... if you spray this stuff to try to break it up w/out removal of the part...

maybe you'll get lucky... i know they're a PITA for some... might want to blast some PBBlaster on the bolts & let it soak a bit before attacking them.

GL

yes,.. i bought a bottle of seafoam.
but... can you tell me in more detail?
like how to clean carbon deposits...
Did you meant to spray seafoam? onto somewhere?
where should I spray it?
I am sorry if I am too dumb.. but,.. i don't get you...
I put half of the bottle of seafoam into gas tank.. but,.. made no difference..

which is Y i suggested to clean the carbon deposits... search seafoam or deep creep... if you spray this stuff to try to break it up w/out removal of the part...

maybe you'll get lucky... i know they're a PITA for some... might want to blast some PBBlaster on the bolts & let it soak a bit before attacking them.

GL

Did you read the directions? I think you use the brake vacuum line to get it into the engine and then run the car for a little while. After that you MUST change the oil afterwards.

Did you read the directions? I think you use the brake vacuum line to get it into the engine and then run the car for a little while. After that you MUST change the oil afterwards.

I did read the directions,. but, I don't know what and where brake vacuum line is.

I did read the directions,. but, I don't know what and where brake vacuum line is.Vacuum Line- use the line that goes the Intake Manifold, or just pour it in the throttle boddy (slowly either way). Shut the vehilce off. Let it sit for a while. Start it up and watch it smoke. After it's done with the smoke, shut it off and change the oil as you normally would. Do this IMMEDIATELY afterwards or before you go dring the car again.

How much seafoam should I put into it?
I am not still clear which part it is... Can you please show me a picture of it???
Sorry to bother you this much!

Thanks a million!

Vacuum Line- use the line that goes the Intake Manifold, or just pour it in the throttle boddy (slowly either way). Shut the vehilce off. Let it sit for a while. Start it up and watch it smoke. After it's done with the smoke, shut it off and change the oil as you normally would. Do this IMMEDIATELY afterwards or before you go dring the car again.

Just pour it into the thrittle body. Take off the intake tube and pour it in.

Should I keep the engine running while pouring seafoam into throttle body? How much seafoam should I use?

Should I keep the engine running while pouring seafoam into throttle body? How much seafoam should I use?From Seafoam's website...

With warm engine running, SLOWLY poor 1/2 pint through carburator, throttle body or direct manifold vacuum line that will feed ALL CYLINDERS. Possible sources are P.C.V. valve or brake booster line. Turn ignition off. Restart engine after 5 minutes. Be sure exhaust is well ventilated. Fumes will be extreme for a short period of time.

ernie,

don't pour it in/ use a trigger spray bottle! less chance of hydrolocking the engine!!!!!!!!!

search google for more processes of this carbon cleaning... heck search carbon cleaning using regular or better yet distilled water!!!!! same idea!

but i suggested using deep creep, an aerosol can version of the same shizzle... but buying the chemical & getting a trigger spray from a dolla store is more economico...

that way, you can attack the egr ports/tubes directly instead of running it thru the engine 1st...

thank you, i will try to put seafoam into throttle body this weekend.

I have seafoamed the car... I used the spray bottle to spray seafoam into throttle body... There was some smoke,.. but,.. not as much as I seen on some video clips. after it stopped smoking, i reset the check engine light, but, it turned back on after a moment. I am gonna change the oil tomorrow or sunday. I think seafoam doesn't help to get rid of the check engine light...
Thank you rice bike for spray bottle advice!

nonononoono....

you want to put seafoam directly thru the egr, then, if you have an air compressor, blast the air thru there to see if it'll clear up some carbon buildup...

if that won't work, then consider replacing that egr valve/transducer combo as noted on the 1st page... or blocking it off if you don't have emissions testing in your state. soo... same trouble code as before?

change your oil asap! you don't want the excess carbon to clog up the oil screen/filters...

nonononoono....

you want to put seafoam directly thru the egr, then, if you have an air compressor, blast the air thru there to see if it'll clear up some carbon buildup...

if that won't work, then consider replacing that egr valve/transducer combo as noted on the 1st page... or blocking it off if you don't have emissions testing in your state. soo... same trouble code as before?

change your oil asap! you don't want the excess carbon to clog up the oil screen/filters...

There was some smoke coming out from tranducer also...
i will try to put some seafoam into it...

HI again,
I decided to replace the EGR valves at a different garage, since i don't know how to reach them. This should fix the check engine light.
Now, I have another problem.
I fould oil on one of the spark plugs when I replace them.
The oil was on the part which goes into the engine. Could anyone tell me what's wrong and how to fix it?

cold air intake?-- I found that the air intake tube is extended to the front of the engine, near the water tank. How is this different from CAI systems?

Thank you
ernesto

HI again,
I fould oil on one of the spark plugs when I replace them.
The oil was on the part which goes into the engine. Could anyone tell me what's wrong and how to fix it?Your spark plug tube seals need to be replaced. They are in the valve cover. You can get a valve cover gasket (which includes the spark plug tube seals) for about $20 and its an easy job.

i got my EGR valves changed finally, costed about $240 :(
I think the last owner have never changed the timing belt before.
The car has now 123000+ miles on it now...
Is there anyway I could check if I need to replace it?
http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/19/86/5c/0900823d8019865c.jsp
is this showing how to remove the timing belt cover?


Thanks very much.
ernesto

The timing belt along with the water pump and tensioner pulley should be changed every 100,000 miles. GET IT REPLACED ASAP!

Yes, that link is showing you how to remove the timing belt cover, but doesn't mention how to remove the crank pulley....just so you know.

The timing belt along with the water pump and tensioner pulley should be changed every 100,000 miles. GET IT REPLACED ASAP!

Yes, that link is showing you how to remove the timing belt cover, but doesn't mention how to remove the crank pulley....just so you know.
In that link, i got an impression like the engine needs to be lifted? separately? not with the car?:screwy:
Can you tell me which would be a good price for replacing all of those parts you mentioned?
I mean how much do you think it should cost if I get it replaced at a garage?

Is it possible to check the timing belt (if it need to be replaced) without removing the cover?


PS: i live in springfield, OH(near Columbus) do you know anyplace to fix the car or install CAI and such in this area?


Thank you
ernesto

There is a belt inspection cover that you can remove and look at the belt, but I wouldn't bet on it being a sure fire way to tell if the belt is in good condition. Besides the belt could be fine and then your water pump seize and shred the belt, so get it changed.

All the parts run about $40 apiece and should take a shop about 3-4 hours (maybe) to replace them.

There is a belt inspection cover that you can remove and look at the belt, but I wouldn't bet on it being a sure fire way to tell if the belt is in good condition. Besides the belt could be fine and then your water pump seize and shred the belt, so get it changed.

All the parts run about $40 apiece and should take a shop about 3-4 hours (maybe) to replace them.

how about the labour charges?
I mean how much should the labour charges be?
last time, for EGR valve, they charged me as much as the parts,.. :S :( :banghead:

$35-$50...possibly! I don't know what labor rates are these days. Call around to some shops in your area and ask.

$35-$50...possibly! I don't know what labor rates are these days. Call around to some shops in your area and ask.


LOL, i wish it was that cheap to do a timing belt:grinno:

~$200 +/- parts & coolant & oil change... water pump highly recommended since it'll be there to remove/replace anyways...

here's a good resource for timing belt intervals (http://www.troublecodes.net/tbelt/chryslertb.shtml)

just gotta know that if it's an interference engine, it'll be more in your favor to get this preventative maintenance in check, if you do love that car :2cents:

^^^Neons are an interference engine.

in autozone instructions, does it mean like i need the engine to be lifted up separately from the car?
i decided to replace that belt myself since i can't afford to pay for labour :banghead::banghead::banghead: :2cents::2cents::2cents:

If you have a SOHC, click the link below for a great how-to...
http://jball.neons.org/howto/timing_belt/howto.html

Your spark plug tube seals need to be replaced. They are in the valve cover. You can get a valve cover gasket (which includes the spark plug tube seals) for about $20 and its an easy job.


das, based on your reply on page 2, he's got a DOHC engine... prevalent of that spark plug getting oil-fouled

you don't haveta lift the engine that much, just enough to releive stress on the motor mount, i believe.

as far as interference engines is concerned, yeap... most late model cars are going this route to maximize HP/ but when belt snaps, your valves may go as well/ sux

i've recently acquired a 95 lebaron as a hand-me-down; no interference engine, so i can let it go until it snaps :P w/ no engine damage.

just consider water pump replacement as well; hit it all in 1 shot. like, prepare to change the timing belt tensioner too if the pulley feels/sounds weird when you spin it w/ the belt off... gotta spin smoovely.

of course, timing mark placement is imperative in this type of job; GL!

Hello,
Thank for the replies.
Mine is a SOHC.. I still haven't got time to replace it since I am busy with my homeworks lately.. I think I would probably need a whole day since I have never done it before. The semester just started, but I have too much homeworks & quizzes already! :S

Anyway,.. I bought a steering wheels on ebay and was trying to replace the one I have now. It looks like the air bag is in the wheel. Do I have to remove the airbag to install a new steering wheel??? Can any of you tell me where I can find the steering wheel replacement steps<like timing belt one>?

Do I have to remove the airbag to install a new steering wheel??? Can any of you tell me where I can find the steering wheel replacement steps<like timing belt one>?Assuming you bought a stock steering wheel and got the airbag with it, you can just swap it out. But you do need to take off the airbag to pull the wheel off.

1)You MUST disconnect the battery and wait about 10 minutes to turn the airbags off.
2)Make sure the wheels are straight
3)Remove the screws from the 2 pods on each side of the steering wheel.
4)Remove the bolts (behind the wheel) that attach the airbag to the wheel.
5)Disconnect the horn connector and the clockspring electrical lead from the back of the airbag (just pry up on it easily with a small screwdriver.
6)Remove the steering wheel nut.
7)Use a steering wheel puller and pull the wheel off.

Assuming you bought a stock steering wheel and got the airbag with it, you can just swap it out. But you do need to take off the airbag to pull the wheel off.

1)You MUST disconnect the battery and wait about 10 minutes to turn the airbags off.
2)Make sure the wheels are straight
3)Remove the screws from the 2 pods on each side of the steering wheel.
4)Remove the bolts (behind the wheel) that attach the airbag to the wheel.
5)Disconnect the horn connector and the clockspring electrical lead from the back of the airbag (just pry up on it easily with a small screwdriver.
6)Remove the steering wheel nut.
7)Use a steering wheel puller and pull the wheel off.
no, no... i got a smaller wheel...
http://runepixels.com/uimages8/SW-94150-BK-B-MUG.jpg
so.. Do I have to completely remove the air bag to swap with this one?

You have to remove the airbag to pull the steering wheel. You will also need a Momo adapter to get that wheel onto the neon.

You have to remove the airbag to pull the steering wheel. You will also need a Momo adapter to get that wheel onto the neon.

When I go to autozone or advanced auto parts, they said they don't have any adapter for neon... does all the adapters have the same size? The guy at autozone said he can't give me any advice relating to air bags... :S

HERE (http://sportscar-parts.com/mivastore/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=sportscar&Product_Code=MM2401Dodge94toNeon&Category_Code=MOMOhubs) is what you need.

HERE (http://sportscar-parts.com/mivastore/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=sportscar&Product_Code=MM2401Dodge94toNeon&Category_Code=MOMOhubs) is what you need.

will the one at autozone work???
because they are much cheaper...

will the one at autozone work???
because they are much cheaper...As long as its a MOMO hub.

hello,
I really hope you have a solution for this
i bought a momo hub, and tried to install the new wheel.
but, the little grooves (teeth) on the hub which is supposed to grip the axis of steering wheel is too short.
so, it will not lock the wheel with the axis.
is there anything else like adaptor or whatever i would need?
i already ripped off all those auto drive stuff just to install this wheel...
please help me out :banghead::banghead::banghead:

the part number of momo hub i got is 2401.

nevermind,
i figured it out..
& i am so glad that I broke a lot less stuff than i thought i did.
the only thing I broke was the spiral wire thing which coil and decoil as the steering was rotated.
When i take that whole thing out, the hub works well
i still need a hub spacer to get more space for turn signal

ok, my neon finally says goodbye to me..
it got hit while parked infront of my house.:banghead:
it's gonna be totaled..


bye bye neon
thanks for all the help from you guys.
ernesto821