Problems with 96 neon

[1quickneon]

Yesterday I took my first long ass trip in my neon (96 sohc 5 speed) went down a road with ALOT of bumps. I was goin down hill so I put the clutch and coated then all of a sudden it stalls. But before that it was runnin rough coastin in like 3rd and 4th gear like putting. sounded like the injectors were dirty. Before the trip I also put fuel injector cleaner in the gas. It stalled one other time at a toll but I made it home ok. I left for work today and the same thing happend and was hard starting it up again after it stalled. I got it started and was revving the engine but it wasnt reving right. Its like something was clogged. Now my service engine soon light is on. I traced it and it comes up 12. (Direct battery input to PCM was disconnected within the last 50 key-on cycle) No clue what that means i dint touch the pcm..I dont know what it is? Could it be 02 sensors?fuel filter?injectors? I dunt know?Can anyone help me? Your help is appreciated Thank you

[Sluttypatton]

Your OBD II is telling you that there is a problem with your battery...maybe the connections are loose, or it's not holding a charge. Listen to the OBD II, check out your battery. Could be something else, but your OBD II seems to think otherwise, so that would be a good place to start.

[FuriousMachine95]

Once the engine is started everything runs off your alternator though, so I don't think it could be a battery problem. I could be wrong but that's just my . It sounds like your fuel filter may need to be changed if it's sputtering. When it stalls is it when you are off the gas and on the break? If it is that's a good sign of something clogging the fuel dilivery system. Sluttypatton is right though. Start with the OBDII and go from there.

[1quickneon]

Wow im gonna sound really stupid here but what is the OBD II? When the engine is running i disconnected the negative lead and the car still ran so that means the alternator is fine. I think. It stalls when its in gear with the clutch in and also when im slowing down with the brake in. It doesnt stall with the gas in but it putters.

[1quickneon]

OBD=onboard diagnostic system or some shit? Im going to have the mechanic look at it.. i try to fix things and make things better and i make them worse.,., so fuck it.,.,ill see what the mechanic comes up with.,. Thanks for ur help guys

[FuriousMachine95]

OBDII is your On Board Diagnostics. Basically all it is is a computer that sences problems with your car, logs them and triggers your check engine light. If you want more info you can go to neons.org, go to neon FAQ, then scroll down to 2.5.8 What are error codes. It will give a little explanation what it is. If it is stalling with the clutch in and the brake on, then you need to change your fuel filter. I had the same problem with my 95 a couple months ago, and changing the filter solved it. What happens is when you are just ideling, clutch in and in gear, or just not on the gas and slowing down, the fuel pump isn't pushing much gas through the line. When the filter is clogged the pump can't push enough through the line so it stalls when you slow down or hit the clutch. Very aggravating Oh and yes, if you disconnect the negative lead with the engine running and it stays running, your alt. is fine. But anyway, change your filter and you should be all better.

[1quickneon]

Thank You Furious I really appreciate your time explaining it to me. I did read the the neon org site.. Good job with explaining it. Hopefully i gte it fixed tommorow. Thanks again

[drag1320neon]

Originally Posted by FuriousMachine95

Once the engine is started everything runs off your alternator though, so I don't think it could be a battery problem. I could be wrong but that's just my . It sounds like your fuel filter may need to be changed if it's sputtering. When it stalls is it when you are off the gas and on the break? If it is that's a good sign of something clogging the fuel dilivery system. Sluttypatton is right though. Start with the OBDII and go from there.

the fuel filter is said to not be a serviceable item, its printed on it

[1quickneon]

The mechanic hooked it up to the obd II and 2 codes or something came up. He reset the service engine light and its been runnning fine. I dont think he fixed anything though. Im bringing it back thursday tho hes going to check more things. I hope it deosnt stall again but i dont know what the problem is.

[FuriousMachine95]

The fuel filter is not a serviceable item? I didn't have much of a problem changing mine.

[Syndrome51]

There is how to reset your computer for free:Unplug the battery for 10 min, reconect it and start your engine. You may need to press on gas to help it starts, it's normal, the computer need to relearn everything. Gently remove you foot from the gas and let the computer do some tests for maybe 10 other min. Then you will be ready 2 drive. Your problem looks like your car has to do the relearn procedure every time your start. I'm thinking that your computer have a lost of power (error code 12 ) that will cause a lost of memory at same time that cause the relearning each time you start. Check your battery and, VERY VERY important, clean the connections!!!!
Sorry 4 the english, I'm french, I'm doing my best

[FuriousMachine95]

I have been wrong before. I might be this time too from what everybody else is saying.

[1quickneon]

The mechanic found acouple codes but im not sure what exactly they are. He said it wasnt 12 though. I thougt it was.Anyway it stalled again today. It started in 2nd gear when my foot is off the gas then when i give it gas it started bucking. (No it wasnt the clutch because i didnt have my foot on the clucth) Its doing the same shit im so pissed. IS the fuel filter easy to change is it in the gas tank?

[Syndrome51]

If the engine buck at low (under 1000) RPM when you hit the gas, it could be the spark plug/wire. Check your spark plugs. I had something like this, buck under 1000 rpm and under hard acceleration. I changed the wire and it goes away. Wire are rated for 60k milles I think.

[drag1320neon]

Originally Posted by FuriousMachine95

The fuel filter is not a serviceable item? I didn't have much of a problem changing mine.

physically you can, but the dealer says only to it if it breaks, its not supposed to get "dirty"