'95 Neon Running poor

[hsma]

I just bought a 95 Plymouth Neon from a friend, but the check engine recently came on, I took it for a diagnostic, the people told me I had cylinder misfires.But other problems I encountered were the car would jerk when I would let go of the accelerator above speeds of 30 MPH, and it seems to accelerate real slow.Also, it would strain when I would go from a stop..It has also been getting low gas mileage, like 8-10 mpg maybe less. I bought new spark plugs and wires and installed to see if it would correct the problem but it still does the jerky motions and seems to eat up alot of gas. Would you guys recommend changing the fuel filter?

I also checked to see if the new spark plugs were correctly installed, and when I pulled them out, there was alot of carbon build up around them already. The tip was white, but the outer was pure black, and this was for all 4 spark plugs.

I dont have much money to take the car to any dealerships or have it fixed by a mechanic.

Any suggestions??

[joe92k1500]

Black plugs usually indicate a rich fuel mixture. I would replace the fuel filter, air filter, and oxygen sensor. Disconnect the Battery when you change the oxygen sensor, so the computer will learn from scratch how to run the engine. It may stall once or twice when you start it back up, but let it warm up on its own.

[hsma]

How much do oxygen sensors go for, and how would I install them? I bought a new fuel filter, but it looks very different from the ones I've seen. It has 3 long tubes with colored ends.

[joe92k1500]

I havent chaged one in a Neon, but their fuel filters do look strange. The oxygen sensors will run you about $45 or so. They are mounted on the exhaust. I beleive your car has one before and after the Catalytic Converter. You can buy an oxygen sensor socket, and they can be a real pain to get off. Might have to heat it up with a torch. Go ahead and buy yourself a Chilton, or a haynes manual for your car ( about $15) . They tell you how to do alot on your car.

[Jasin18]

Same Exact problem guys. Gerks when i let off gas, and getting like 10mpg. Running Rich is why. Its just not getting any air. I put some transmission fluid in and its not jerking near as much as it use to, it may once in a month now.

[hsma]

Hmm, should I flush the transmission entirely or maybe just put some more in?

[DanF]

You had run your codes and they said cylinder misfire, ok, now your car is running rich and having acceleration problems.... your timing is retarded. I would check your cam position sensor and your crank position sensor to see if they sending the right voltage. That could cause retarded timing. A fuel filter wouldn't matter because it would make the car run lean not rich, it would choke it not over supply it. A cylinder misfire means your timing is off, that would make you run rich. New pugs and wires typically wouldn't fix that problem. Like I said earlier, its a sensor if your timing is off so it would be a timing related sensor, Crank Position, cam position, or perhaps your coil pack is shot. I've head of that making that code before. Plus it would provide less of a spark and could cause it to run rich. Let me know how all this goes.

[hsma]

I didnt get to look at or change the crank and cam sensors, but I did replace my fuel filter. The thing I noticed after I installed it, it seem there was back pressure on one of the lines and it would ooze a little bit of fuel. The fuel filter is brand new, so I dont know it would seem like there was something clogged. After I installed the fuel filter, I did notice some improvement, but im still concerned about that minor leak.

[KIKIN]

Have You Checked The Fuel Injectors?.they Might Be Clogged.i Changed All 4 And Now Is Running Just Fine.