Plymoth Neon head Gasket Repair? (PLEASE HELP!)
PlymothNeon99
08-08-2005, 11:15 PM
First off, hello. I found this place while looking for info on the thread topic. Cool place.
Anyhoo, I own a 99' Plymoth Neon. It currently has just slightly under 60,000 miles on it. I've been leaking small-moderate amounts of oil for the past few weeks, and finally took it to a shop (that has done some excellent work on my parents vehicle) to see what the cause and solution was. Oh, and in case your wondering, I waited so long to take it in because I've been working roughly 70 hours a week for the past month. Sucks, but it's a job that can lead places if I stick it out.
Moving on, it seems that the problem is a Head Gasket, which, if left unrepaired, will eventually blow completely (in more ways than one...as in, wow, that really blows!!). Problem is, the guy is telling me that to get it fixed, I'm gonna have to take a huge raping (my words, not his). This raping will amount to $1600. My butt hurts just thinking about it.
And no, before you ask, I'm not loaded because of the insane amount of hours I work. My base salary is $9 an hour. Granted, OT is $13.50, but that's still not enough for me to afford a $1600 repair. I don't even have anywhere near that much!
So, what I despartaely need to know is, does $1600 for this type of repair sound correct? Is this guy just trying to jip me because he thinks I'm ignorant of automobiles (I am, but that doesn't justify scamming me of course), or does $1600 sound about right?
Also, are there any other options I have, if the problem is indeed a leaking Head Gasket? Would it be cheaper to just get a new engine, and have it put in?
I'm aware that Neon's of previous years (like 95-98) have had faulty head gaskets as a major problem. Is the problem still the same in the 99'? I'm guessing it is since 60'000 miles is nothing, and certainly shouldn't result in a problem this big, this soon. Is there anything I may be doing wrong that would cause this type of problem?
Thank you VERY much in advance, for any help that can be offered. If worse comes to worse, does anyone know of a talented, and trust-worthy mechanic in the San Diego area?
Anyhoo, I own a 99' Plymoth Neon. It currently has just slightly under 60,000 miles on it. I've been leaking small-moderate amounts of oil for the past few weeks, and finally took it to a shop (that has done some excellent work on my parents vehicle) to see what the cause and solution was. Oh, and in case your wondering, I waited so long to take it in because I've been working roughly 70 hours a week for the past month. Sucks, but it's a job that can lead places if I stick it out.
Moving on, it seems that the problem is a Head Gasket, which, if left unrepaired, will eventually blow completely (in more ways than one...as in, wow, that really blows!!). Problem is, the guy is telling me that to get it fixed, I'm gonna have to take a huge raping (my words, not his). This raping will amount to $1600. My butt hurts just thinking about it.
And no, before you ask, I'm not loaded because of the insane amount of hours I work. My base salary is $9 an hour. Granted, OT is $13.50, but that's still not enough for me to afford a $1600 repair. I don't even have anywhere near that much!
So, what I despartaely need to know is, does $1600 for this type of repair sound correct? Is this guy just trying to jip me because he thinks I'm ignorant of automobiles (I am, but that doesn't justify scamming me of course), or does $1600 sound about right?
Also, are there any other options I have, if the problem is indeed a leaking Head Gasket? Would it be cheaper to just get a new engine, and have it put in?
I'm aware that Neon's of previous years (like 95-98) have had faulty head gaskets as a major problem. Is the problem still the same in the 99'? I'm guessing it is since 60'000 miles is nothing, and certainly shouldn't result in a problem this big, this soon. Is there anything I may be doing wrong that would cause this type of problem?
Thank you VERY much in advance, for any help that can be offered. If worse comes to worse, does anyone know of a talented, and trust-worthy mechanic in the San Diego area?
palindromelol
08-08-2005, 11:37 PM
1) $1600.00 is about right. he is telling you 2 days work. and that is correct. removal cleaning and installation would take me 2 days. 100 bucks an hour plust a gasket kit 50 to 100 bucks.
2) the leaky head gasket issue is well known in neons... 60,000 miles is about right. Typically the leak is from a seal for an oil conduit and the leak mostly goes from the pressurized conduit to the environment. The oil for the common fault almost never (I never heard of a case) goes to the combustion chamber, or the the coolant. If it does you'll know about it with oil in you coolant or smoke. I never heard about coolant getting into the oil of the combustion chambers with the neon fault.
So you could alway just keep adding oil until it become impractical to do so.
3) Do the head gasket repair yourself. $160 bucks because you time has no value. (Sorry but true )
4) Some owners have successfully got partial refunds from Chrysler for the repair. I did not, and I did not buy another Chysler either when I bought my next 2 cars ($72,000 for both). (so who lost out?)
So fix it yourself when it gets to be a bother. it is easier than you think. a little messy and great fum
2) the leaky head gasket issue is well known in neons... 60,000 miles is about right. Typically the leak is from a seal for an oil conduit and the leak mostly goes from the pressurized conduit to the environment. The oil for the common fault almost never (I never heard of a case) goes to the combustion chamber, or the the coolant. If it does you'll know about it with oil in you coolant or smoke. I never heard about coolant getting into the oil of the combustion chambers with the neon fault.
So you could alway just keep adding oil until it become impractical to do so.
3) Do the head gasket repair yourself. $160 bucks because you time has no value. (Sorry but true )
4) Some owners have successfully got partial refunds from Chrysler for the repair. I did not, and I did not buy another Chysler either when I bought my next 2 cars ($72,000 for both). (so who lost out?)
So fix it yourself when it gets to be a bother. it is easier than you think. a little messy and great fum
PlymothNeon99
08-09-2005, 12:10 AM
1) $1600.00 is about right. he is telling you 2 days work. and that is correct. removal cleaning and installation would take me 2 days. 100 bucks an hour plust a gasket kit 50 to 100 bucks.
2) the leaky head gasket issue is well known in neons... 60,000 miles is about right. Typically the leak is from a seal for an oil conduit and the leak mostly goes from the pressurized conduit to the environment. The oil for the common fault almost never (I never heard of a case) goes to the combustion chamber, or the the coolant. If it does you'll know about it with oil in you coolant or smoke. I never heard about coolant getting into the oil of the combustion chambers with the neon fault.
So you could alway just keep adding oil until it become impractical to do so.
3) Do the head gasket repair yourself. $160 bucks because you time has no value. (Sorry but true )
4) Some owners have successfully got partial refunds from Chrysler for the repair. I did not, and I did not buy another Chysler either when I bought my next 2 cars ($72,000 for both). (so who lost out?)
So fix it yourself when it gets to be a bother. it is easier than you think. a little messy and great fum
Thank you VERY much for your replay. Unfortunately, I know jack and squat about fixing automobiles (I have replaced my own brakes before though). Do you still think it's possible for someone like me to do this myself? If so, where would I learn? I'm more than willing to buy repair schematics if need be, as long as I can get something that will run it all by step-by-step (like a, repair your head gasket for dummies).
Again, thank you for your help.
2) the leaky head gasket issue is well known in neons... 60,000 miles is about right. Typically the leak is from a seal for an oil conduit and the leak mostly goes from the pressurized conduit to the environment. The oil for the common fault almost never (I never heard of a case) goes to the combustion chamber, or the the coolant. If it does you'll know about it with oil in you coolant or smoke. I never heard about coolant getting into the oil of the combustion chambers with the neon fault.
So you could alway just keep adding oil until it become impractical to do so.
3) Do the head gasket repair yourself. $160 bucks because you time has no value. (Sorry but true )
4) Some owners have successfully got partial refunds from Chrysler for the repair. I did not, and I did not buy another Chysler either when I bought my next 2 cars ($72,000 for both). (so who lost out?)
So fix it yourself when it gets to be a bother. it is easier than you think. a little messy and great fum
Thank you VERY much for your replay. Unfortunately, I know jack and squat about fixing automobiles (I have replaced my own brakes before though). Do you still think it's possible for someone like me to do this myself? If so, where would I learn? I'm more than willing to buy repair schematics if need be, as long as I can get something that will run it all by step-by-step (like a, repair your head gasket for dummies).
Again, thank you for your help.
palindromelol
08-09-2005, 12:30 AM
Thank you VERY much for your replay. Unfortunately, I know jack and squat about fixing automobiles (I have replaced my own brakes before though). Do you still think it's possible for someone like me to do this myself? If so, where would I learn? I'm more than willing to buy repair schematics if need be, as long as I can get something that will run it all by step-by-step (like a, repair your head gasket for dummies).
Again, thank you for your help.
I definitely think you can replace a head gasket. Do it only if the leak gets bad. and maybe enlist a buddy or two to lift the head off.
I would not relace an egine. I would sell the car and buy another. I rebuilt my engine soup to nuts as an exercise for my 15 year old mouse clicking musically inclined near genious son.
He did a great job. He was freaked out at first, and time was not an issue. He'd do it again tomorrow in a heart beat.
A head job is not just a result you want, the process of doing it has value. People in here know a lot about neons. You can get day by day hour by hour help. We just love cars.
No rush for you.
Again, thank you for your help.
I definitely think you can replace a head gasket. Do it only if the leak gets bad. and maybe enlist a buddy or two to lift the head off.
I would not relace an egine. I would sell the car and buy another. I rebuilt my engine soup to nuts as an exercise for my 15 year old mouse clicking musically inclined near genious son.
He did a great job. He was freaked out at first, and time was not an issue. He'd do it again tomorrow in a heart beat.
A head job is not just a result you want, the process of doing it has value. People in here know a lot about neons. You can get day by day hour by hour help. We just love cars.
No rush for you.
PlymothNeon99
08-09-2005, 12:53 AM
I definitely think you can replace a head gasket. Do it only if the leak gets bad. and maybe enlist a buddy or two to lift the head off.
I would not relace an egine. I would sell the car and buy another. I rebuilt my engine soup to nuts as an exercise for my 15 year old mouse clicking musically inclined near genious son.
He did a great job. He was freaked out at first, and time was not an issue. He'd do it again tomorrow in a heart beat.
A head job is not just a result you want, the process of doing it has value. People in here know a lot about neons. You can get day by day hour by hour help. We just love cars.
No rush for you.
It sound scary, but I'm honestly thinking about it as an option. Ironically enough, I used to work for Mitchell1. If I stil did, I would be able to DL and print out any repair info I'd need. Oh well.
You think that maybe the Chilton guides might have the proper info. I'm not saying that I don't want people help here (because I certainly do), but I also don't want to do this sort of thing with out a visual guide of some sort. I'm an artist, and a HIGHLY visual person. Also, for me, time is a factor. I can olny go so long without a car, and if it would take a normal mechanic about 2 days, it would probably take me about a week. Especially since I work 13 hours a day shirts most of the time, for 6 days a week. By the time I get home most nights, I have time to eat, and go to bed.
I would not relace an egine. I would sell the car and buy another. I rebuilt my engine soup to nuts as an exercise for my 15 year old mouse clicking musically inclined near genious son.
He did a great job. He was freaked out at first, and time was not an issue. He'd do it again tomorrow in a heart beat.
A head job is not just a result you want, the process of doing it has value. People in here know a lot about neons. You can get day by day hour by hour help. We just love cars.
No rush for you.
It sound scary, but I'm honestly thinking about it as an option. Ironically enough, I used to work for Mitchell1. If I stil did, I would be able to DL and print out any repair info I'd need. Oh well.
You think that maybe the Chilton guides might have the proper info. I'm not saying that I don't want people help here (because I certainly do), but I also don't want to do this sort of thing with out a visual guide of some sort. I'm an artist, and a HIGHLY visual person. Also, for me, time is a factor. I can olny go so long without a car, and if it would take a normal mechanic about 2 days, it would probably take me about a week. Especially since I work 13 hours a day shirts most of the time, for 6 days a week. By the time I get home most nights, I have time to eat, and go to bed.
maykelcj
08-09-2005, 05:30 AM
99 neon’s don't suffer the head gasket problem they fix it on 1997. get your engine degreased and clean then look well from where the oil is coming from. I bet is the rocker-arms gasket. If it is, find in an auto part a tube of high heat silicon gasket-maker. clean the rubber gasket an apply the silicon as directed. it is a 20 minutes job. If were the head gasket you would get this
-oil in the coolant fluid
-lost compression
-coolant on the oil
-all of the above
If you need to replace the head gasket, get yourself a Chilton manual it is very simple to follow. I'm an artist too and this book is full of graphics an pictures. I do everything on my car and this manual is awesome! you can also borrow tools from AutoZone. I did a complete engine rebuilt and so far the car is better than ever (there is more info on your local library. They carry a bunch of mechanic books)
Time is something that you need as well as the right tools. It did not took too much time the work itself because I know my neo inside out, but I think that working hard and having all you need on hand will only take you a couple of days. I don't know that mechanic you talked to, but working hard I can get the head gasket replaced in less than 10 hours.
make a list of all you need before you start and make sure you get a new timing belt (I never recommend to reuse it) it is not too expensive. And yeah you are going to need to take some vacations to make it happened since you have to shop around for parts and tools.
-oil in the coolant fluid
-lost compression
-coolant on the oil
-all of the above
If you need to replace the head gasket, get yourself a Chilton manual it is very simple to follow. I'm an artist too and this book is full of graphics an pictures. I do everything on my car and this manual is awesome! you can also borrow tools from AutoZone. I did a complete engine rebuilt and so far the car is better than ever (there is more info on your local library. They carry a bunch of mechanic books)
Time is something that you need as well as the right tools. It did not took too much time the work itself because I know my neo inside out, but I think that working hard and having all you need on hand will only take you a couple of days. I don't know that mechanic you talked to, but working hard I can get the head gasket replaced in less than 10 hours.
make a list of all you need before you start and make sure you get a new timing belt (I never recommend to reuse it) it is not too expensive. And yeah you are going to need to take some vacations to make it happened since you have to shop around for parts and tools.
das2123
08-09-2005, 07:52 AM
99 neon’s don't suffer the head gasket problem they fix it on 1997. get your engine degreased and clean then look well from where the oil is coming from. I bet is the rocker-arms gasket. If it is, find in an auto part a tube of high heat silicon gasket-maker. clean the rubber gasket an apply the silicon as directed. it is a 20 minutes job. If were the head gasket you would get this
-oil in the coolant fluid
-lost compression
-coolant on the oil
-all of the aboveGreat post! The 97 and up neons got the MLS headgasket which is not prone to leaking. There is a TSB stating "oil seepage at cam position sensor/Misinterpreted Head Gasket Leak." Check your cam sensor and see if it is leaking. It will be on the driver's side head of the engine.
-oil in the coolant fluid
-lost compression
-coolant on the oil
-all of the aboveGreat post! The 97 and up neons got the MLS headgasket which is not prone to leaking. There is a TSB stating "oil seepage at cam position sensor/Misinterpreted Head Gasket Leak." Check your cam sensor and see if it is leaking. It will be on the driver's side head of the engine.
maykelcj
08-09-2005, 02:30 PM
Great post! The 97 and up neons got the MLS headgasket which is not prone to leaking. There is a TSB stating "oil seepage at cam position sensor/Misinterpreted Head Gasket Leak." Check your cam sensor and see if it is leaking. It will be on the driver's side head of the engine.
yeah!!! that too.
yeah!!! that too.
palindromelol
08-09-2005, 03:12 PM
yup that is true. The newer head gaskets don't have the same fault as the 95-96 models. So it is not axiomatic that a small leak can be tolerated. I agree that confirmation of the leak source is cheap and easy to do. It is more likely a valve cover seal. Assuming that the mechanic is correct, the mixing of fluids is a very good test for immediacy of the repair.
See.... you will get good help here. a bunch of smarty pants....ready willing and able.
See.... you will get good help here. a bunch of smarty pants....ready willing and able.
wafrederick
08-09-2005, 09:06 PM
1998 and up Neons do have the head gaskets problems too.I replaced one in a 2001 Neon with the headgasket problem.Also have the cylinder head checked for warpness.If the head is warped,have it milled by an auto machine shopThe new headgasket will not seal up with a warped cylinder head
palindromelol
08-09-2005, 10:28 PM
1998 and up Neons do have the head gaskets problems too.I replaced one in a 2001
Was it a leak at the oil passage on the exhaust side of the engine? Or a different issue?
Was it a leak at the oil passage on the exhaust side of the engine? Or a different issue?
PlymothNeon99
08-10-2005, 12:34 AM
1998 and up Neons do have the head gaskets problems too.I replaced one in a 2001 Neon with the headgasket problem.Also have the cylinder head checked for warpness.If the head is warped,have it milled by an auto machine shopThe new headgasket will not seal up with a warped cylinder head
I've done some research, and it seems you're correct. The problem goes at least up till 99's made before September 98.
Thanks for all the help guys. I'm going to get a second opinion, and mention all the possible problems it could be (and try to sound like I know what I’m talking about), so that way, he'll look more thoroughly, and not just assume it's the head gasket because Neon's are known for that problem.
Oh, and thanks for suggesting the Chilton guides. In about 2-3 weeks, I'll probably be getting a few days off, so I might be able to do it then if need be.
I've done some research, and it seems you're correct. The problem goes at least up till 99's made before September 98.
Thanks for all the help guys. I'm going to get a second opinion, and mention all the possible problems it could be (and try to sound like I know what I’m talking about), so that way, he'll look more thoroughly, and not just assume it's the head gasket because Neon's are known for that problem.
Oh, and thanks for suggesting the Chilton guides. In about 2-3 weeks, I'll probably be getting a few days off, so I might be able to do it then if need be.
A97
08-10-2005, 02:49 AM
my `99 leaked less than 100 miles before the warrany was up got lucky since i was told they go out at 40000 or shortly after the warranty expires
AUTOUSA
08-22-2005, 10:26 AM
Had 99 neon with 60k and had pudles of oil under it .It is crazy........
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