Dodge Neon 1995 SOHC problems

[zorpnic]

Well, this is a one in all kind of bitch I have, but it's being worked on as we speak. To begin with, the car was a joke to begin with, what with buying it rather inexpensively, and it had check engine lights within the first 72 hours I bought it. It read as having two 43s (Cylinder misfire), a 12 (I believe it's PCM communication problems), and a few more, but those are what I'm aware of. THEN, after getting absolutely nothing done but a few smaller items like wires, plugs, and most of the random and easily accessable filters replaced, the car ran decent..... This was in January.

This is where it became a problem: A couple weeks ago, I was on my way to the big city I live within about 30 miles from. The car ran like hell on wheels from the ramp I got onto, across the miles of road it took to get there, and almost all the way to the shop I was headed to.... and then it stalled out..... but, this is where it got fucked up. When the car got towed back, about an hour and a half later, it started up again..... even the mechanic that was working on it doesn't know why it did, and I wasn't near a computer, or I would have gotten access to this forum. But yeah, back to the story..... from time to time afterward, including up to this point, it started rather well, but stalled out when the car was idling or running for long durations of time. We did a lot of diagnostics on the car, including fuel pressure tests, (48psi), compression tests, checked the cat. converter and exhaust systems, which all passed, and then started the electrical tests.... most everything passed, but it said the alternator was acting up, which is still being monotored but hasn't been a real problem, and then did fuse tests and coil tests. We ended up noticing that the PCM wasn't coding and got a salvage unit, which works just as well, seeing as we used electric spray to blow the oxidation off and it actually renewed and grounded the terminal wires without compromising the computer system.... and then replaced the ignition coil. On top of that, we cleaned the engine, fixed a leak on the cam sensor plate, and did some work on the fuel and brake lines. So, the problem is, now that most everything but alternator, water pump, or injectors haven't been replaced, the car is hard idling but hasn't stalled out, YET! I noticed the intake manifold hasn't got a gasket, and that'll be done on tuesday. But the basics of it all is I've got a problem with something involving timing or the cam or the electrics. I hope this has been helpful for anyone in any facet of learning or teaching, cause if it's unknown, please teach, if it's known, let others learn. I know I'd like to.... I'm already 1500 in the hole on a 1400 dollar car!

[1thunder]

when you monitor the fuel pressure its good but if the vehicle is quitting this is when you need to test fuel pressure and also you need to check egr valve it may be staying open causing all types of problems and your injectors have to be checked to make sure they are not partially plugged

[zorpnic]

The injectors have been tested and they weren't clogged. The problem is after long hauls, it seems to run too lean and then it has this real hard idling problem. I haven't been able to drive it much lately becuase of the fact that I'm a little worried about the way the car has been running. I can let it idle sometimes, and the car runs great. Other times, I have to keep turning it over till the car starts, then it's a gamble to as to whether or not it's going to stay running. And again, other times, it just doesn't start. Like I said, most everything has been tested or checked. But the problem is one of a few things.... timing, cam, it's possible the injectors are bad, and the multinumerated amount of other recalls or just straight up fuckups this car has. And this one might appeal to you... when I got this car, about 40% of the original bolts and nuts were on the car.... the rest weren't even spec to the threadings in the engine, but it didn't do anything critical to the car. It sealed everything just the same. I'm thinking it's that warped intake manifold. It had no gasket, so I'm only stabbing at the darkness for now. I did, however get a cam set for the car just in case it's not something easy like the timing belt or the cam placement causing the misfire. That's about all the input I have for now. Thanks for your attention to my problem.

[Vampi]

I had a similar problem with my 15 Neon Sport. It would start and run fine, but once it ran for awhile it would just die for no apparent reason. after it sat for awhile (usually while it was going onto a flatbed) it would start right up. the fuel pressure tested fine, but i was told the pump might be bad. i changed it, and it fixed that problem permenantly. it turns out that while it runs and tests out fine while cold and sometimes at idle after running for awhile, when the pump warms up and/or you try to hit give it some gas, the pump seizes, and drops the pressure

[Fractured1]

here's a real shot in the dark...how are your vacuum lines I could see with the engine heat building up and if your lines are not in good shape them collapsing (sucking shut)..told you it was a shot in the dark but if someone else owned it the may have replaced lines with just any hose available...heat on rubber tends to soften them...good luck

[das2123]

Vampi and fractured1, did y'all not see this post is 2 months old? Man, y'all must have been bored.

[Fractured1]

can't argue on the bored...