Buying 1998 Neon: Anything I should look out for?

[BlazerLT]

Has 180k kilometers on the chasis, engine has 161,000 and was just dropped in.

Anything I need to look into or look out for other than the headgasket?

[99 Neon R/T]

Timing belt,tensioner and water pump

[BlazerLT]

Timgin belt is brand new, Iwill keep the tensioner and water pump in mind.

Any reason why these are mentioned.

[Ilovemyneon]

Is it a single overhead or dual? My car with the automatic 3-speed doesnt get good milage with the DOHC engine. Also the DOHC reccomends premium fuel.

[das2123]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

Timgin belt is brand new, Iwill keep the tensioner and water pump in mind.
Any reason why these are mentioned.

The timing belt on a neon is a 100,000 mile belt. So while changing it, you might as well as change the tensioner pulley and water pump. If either of those go out, they will take out the timing belt also. The neon has an interference engine, meaning if the timing belt snaps, then your valves will bend 99% of the time. If the HG is a MLS gasket then you should not worry about it too much. Keep up the maintenance on it and it can last you up to 500,000 miles. Do tell if its DOHC, SOHC, ATX, or MTX?

[BlazerLT]

The engine is the SOHC.

How can I find out what head gasket is on it?

[Ilovemyneon]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

The engine is the SOHC.

How can I find out what head gasket is on it?

From what I know thereis only one kind. As how many miles are on it. If you can convert that number of kilometers to miles, I can give you a better estimate of what to look for.

[das2123]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

How can I find out what head gasket is on it?

There is more that one kind of HG for the neon. The early 95-98 neons had a crappy gasket that would leak real bad. The late 98-99 neons got the MLS (multi-layer steel) gasket that took care of the problems, as the HG went into production in Sep. 1998. To see if you have the MLS HG look between the 3rd and 4th runners on your intake manifold, there will be a little tab sticking out that indicates MLS. You might have to get a flashlight to see.

Originally Posted by Ilovemyneon

From what I know thereis only one kind. As how many miles are on it. If you can convert that number of kilometers to miles, I can give you a better estimate of what to look for.

Its around 111,000 miles, c'mon google will answer that for you ...

[gromittoo]

Originally Posted by das2123

There is more that one kind of HG for the neon. The early 95-98 neons had a crappy gasket that would leak real bad. The late 98-99 neons got the MLS (multi-layer steel) gasket that took care of the problems, as the HG went into production in Sep. 1998. ...

My DOHC 98 sport was built near the end of the model year (spring of 99?), and had the bad gasket. If someone can tell me where to look on the car, I get the date.

[das2123]

Originally Posted by gromittoo

If someone can tell me where to look on the car, I get the date.

The build date on the car should be on the sticker on the driver's side door. It should say Date of MFR 11-98, or something to that affect.

[gromittoo]

Originally Posted by das2123

The build date on the car should be on the sticker on the driver's side door. It should say Date of MFR 11-98, or something to that affect.

I just realized it doesn't matter (i got confused). If the new gasket started in September 98, that implies that all 98's had the bad gasket, and some 99's. My wife bought the 98 in July of 98.