Slight hesitation when accelerating

My '02 Neon has seemed to developed a bit of an annoyance when accelerating:

2.0L engine, manual 5-spd transmission.

When in 1st gear, everything is smooth. Shift into second gear around 20 km/h (13 mph), give it gas. If I'm gentle with it, there's no problem. If I put the pedal down a little bit, the engine starts to sputter a bit. Never stalls, never comes close. Almost seems like it's not getting enough gas. Shift into third gear around 36 km/h (23 mph), same thing. Go easy on the gas and it's fine, give it a bit more and it sputters. Only recently started doing this too.

I've done the key dance (ON-ACC-ON-ACC-ON), throwing no codes whatoever. Odometer doesn't even read "done". Disconnected the battery, reconnected a couple of minutes later and it still doesn't throw codes.

Air filter has just been replaced, plugs have been checked and the gaps reset, oil change just done. Have some gas treatment in the tank, trying fuel injector cleaner now, still nothing. Ideas?

i have an 02 automatic with the same exact problem!!! i went thru everything AND changed the fuel pump to no avail. then we took it on a 3 hr road trip & the tach started jumping half way there. after arriving & killing it, the next day, it would only start for a few seconds, rev real high, then kill. guess we`ll have to take it to the dealer...................
anyone else have these problems???????????????

When was the last time either one of you had a tune-up?

for dv-8 your shifting to early. Shift later, the neons have there power band in the mid to upper rpm range, I have a 03 sxt with a few mods, and my shift points are as follows: 1st 0-25, 2nd 25-60, 3rd 60-90, 4th 90-120, and that is when my ECU shuts my fuel off.

for dv-8 your shifting to early. Shift later, the neons have there power band in the mid to upper rpm range, I have a 03 sxt with a few mods, and my shift points are as follows: 1st 0-25, 2nd 25-60, 3rd 60-90, 4th 90-120, and that is when my ECU shuts my fuel off.


LMAO .... How many speeding tickets do you have?? You never use any gear higher than 4th? WOO HOO!!! I just thought I'd reply as that post made me spit my soda all over the place!! Thanks for the laugh wes! :evillol:

To the OP ... Take a good look at the throttle position sensor if it's more serious than a good thorough tuneup, that leaves every sensor that has a direct influence on the fuel/air ratio. It may be time for a good fuel system cleaning as well. (injectors and intake to remove carbon and buildup) This fuel with the 10% Ethanol in it is wreaking havoc with some cars as well. I've already replaced numerous O-Rings throughout the fuel system in at 6 cars. I know this would be a direct result of someone putting E85 in a regular, non flex fuel car, but that is not the case with these cars as I know the people personally and one of the vehicles was my 2005 Grand Caravan. :(

I am in the military and spent 7 1/2 years in germany, and when i left i went down and got a copy of my file with all my speeding tickets, and it is pretty think and 3 days of being back in the states i got a speeding ticket, cause i was thinking i was still on the autobahn, it was funny and so did the officer giving me my ticket, good times.