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My Plymouth Neon wont spark


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Chris Maynard
09-28-2008, 07:57 PM
I have a 1997 Plymouth Neon Highline. My car wants to turn over, but will not fully start. I replaced the coil, and i am still not getting any spark. Any and all advice is much appreciated.

http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v336/62/13/529107716/n529107716_960919_6128.jpg

das2123
09-29-2008, 08:46 AM
Have you checked the wires and plugs? Could also be a bad/faulty crank or camshaft position sensor.

Chris Maynard
09-29-2008, 09:10 AM
I am getting no spark at the plug. How would i know if it were a faulty cam or crank positioning sensor. Does the car have any on-vehicle diagnostics test?

das2123
09-29-2008, 09:14 AM
Unfortunately those sensors can fail w/o throwing a code.

denisond3
09-29-2008, 11:12 AM
We have a 97 Neon Highline, and I just replaced its Crank Position Sensor. It had been running barely well enough to use on side streets, but was hiccupping noticeably (briefly misfiring on all 4 cylinders I think). It definitely was not a single cylinder misfire!. The Check Engine light had come on over the last couple of weeks, but never stayed on.
I checked the codes using the ignition key method, and got a code 11, having to do with not getting a Crankshaft Position Sensor signal -when cranking-. There was also a code 43, having to do with misfiring. I think it was the misfiring that turned the Check Engline light on.
I pulled the CPS to have a look at it, then reinstalled it. Afterward the car wouldnt fire at all when cranking. So I installed a new CPS ($75), and the problem was gone. The check engine light went out without me resetting codes, & the car passed the VA emissions test the next day.

By the way - my Neon doesnt look like yours! Under its peeling gel coat it is plain stock.

Oldsmobile Doctor
09-29-2008, 09:07 PM
Check the fuse for the fuel pump relay & the automatic shutdown relay it's a 20 amp one in the power distribution center by the battery.

Chris Maynard
10-01-2008, 05:26 PM
How do you access the cars onboard diagnostics?

das2123
10-01-2008, 10:00 PM
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=625404

denisond3
10-01-2008, 10:25 PM
There is an easy way, and there is a better way.
The easy way: Go to the sub-forum for 1st generation Neons, and look in the "1st generation FAQ", the first thread on that page. Question/Answer #5 gives you the instructions.
The better way, is to use a scanning tool, plugged into the government required OBD-II diagnostic socket at the bottom of the dashboard. I think AutoZone and Advance Auto stores will do this for you or let you do it yourself - but you have to get the car to their store. You can buy the scantools for prices from $100 on up. I plan to get the kind that connects to a laptop for its readout, rather than the handheld kind with an LCD screen. Mainly this is because I have a laptop already.
Since the scantool will work will all American and Canadian cars made from about 1995 or 96 onward, I figure its just a matter of time until I will have one that I keep in the trunk all the time, along with the rest of my tools.
Where I live there are emissions inspections required in order to get/renew license plates. If the check engine light is on - the car fails the test, no matter how well it is running. Many or most of the scantools will also reset or erase the trouble codes. But autozone wont erase them for you - another reason to have a scantool of your own.
If you poke around on ebay.com, doing a search for "code scanner" or "scantool" or "OBD-II" you can learn a great deal about the devices.

Chris Maynard
10-04-2008, 07:15 PM
Thank you for all the advice. I took one look at the Crank Sensor and saw that the Wires going to the connector were snapped off. I replaced the sensor and the connector, problem solved!

My car is idling too high. I adjusted the Stop (with a Torque) for the Throttle body and i'm still a little high. I only have one Throttle Cable, should there be two?

das2123
10-05-2008, 09:13 PM
If you have cruise, you would have another cable.

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