would not start

[sthayer]

I have a 1995 plymouth neon - went to start it this morning, it tunred over good, had fuels - just not starting - after check fuses, plugs, etc. I found a old spark plug - pulled the boot off of each plug - went through all 4 of them - they all spark - this is about 2 hours after I first starting fighting with it - about the 3rd. plug - it tried to fire - put it back, check the 4th plug - turned it over, and it started - real rough at first, but still started - idles a little rough, and it has not been getting good gas mileage.

I am not sure if it something with the cold weather - it warmed up quite a bit from when if first started, or what.

the only codes it is showing are 11 (battery disconnected), 21 (O2 Sensor problem - I am asuming this is the mileage problem)

Need to figure out what happened this morning, so It wont happen again.

Thanks,

Scott

[das2123]

Originally Posted by sthayer

21 (O2 Sensor problem - I am asuming this is the mileage problem)

What milage problem? It might be time for some new plugs, even though they are working, they may not be working great.

[sthayer]

I am thinking with the O2 sensor not working right - that is causing the low gas mileage. The car had a major tune up about 6 moths ago - new plugs, wires and everything goes along with that.

Before the tune up, when you would press on the gas - it would hesitate - jerk a couple of times, and then take off - and did the same thing going up hills - tune up helped that a lot - but it is still once in a while a little bit - read someplace this could be caused by the crank position sensor - could this be the problem with it not starting?

going to go out once it cools off out thier tonight - and see if it the cold that is the problem - it starts just fine, no problems now - but it a lot warmer out thier than it was.

[das2123]

Have you replaced the O2 sensor or at least checked to see if it's seated properly?

[sthayer]

have not looked at the O2 sensors yet - there are two of them - that is only thing that the comp. if showing a code on.

just went out - was very hard to start - but once it got started, ran just fine.

would the O2 sensor make it hard to start when it is cold - if I just get it started once, I can start it just fine, but once it gets cooled off again, will not start like it used to.

Right now, hate to spend $60.00 each on them, and not have solve the starting problem.

[das2123]

If it is an O2 sensor problem, then more than likely it's your upstream sensor. Replace that one first, reset the PCM and see if that takes care of your problem.

[rsublime4life]

Its not an O2 problem. When cars are cold most ECUs dont even look at the O2. They run a closed loop until they get hot. My guess is poor spark. Check the coil? Or maybe cam timing, but I dont know if those engines have a timing belt or chain. if its chain then odds are the cam timing is correct unless it's been apart recently. if its a timing belt it could have jumped a tooth on the cam.

[das2123]

Originally Posted by rsublime4life

Its not an O2 problem. When cars are cold most ECUs dont even look at the O2. They run a closed loop until they get hot. My guess is poor spark. Check the coil? Or maybe cam timing, but I dont know if those engines have a timing belt or chain. if its chain then odds are the cam timing is correct unless it's been apart recently. if its a timing belt it could have jumped a tooth on the cam.

When was the last time you worked on a neon? If the timing belt skipped a tooth, then he would have gotten a code 11 and maybe have bent some valves.

[99 Neon R/T]

Originally Posted by das2123

When was the last time you worked on a neon? If the timing belt skipped a tooth, then he would have gotten a code 11 and maybe have bent some valves.

Not to undercut you but didnt he say in the opening post that he got a code 11?

[corning_d3]

I thought code 11 on a '95 chrysler product was IGN reference signal, which I believe is the crank sensor..

Originally Posted by rsublime4life

Its not an O2 problem. When cars are cold most ECUs dont even look at the O2. They run a closed loop until they get hot.

That would be open loop until hot..And yes, the ECM will ignore the O2's until closed loop.

[das2123]

Originally Posted by 99 Neon R/T

Not to undercut you but didnt he say in the opening post that he got a code 11?

You're right, he did say he got a code 11, but said it was the battery thing, so I didn't even think about it.

Originally Posted by corning_d3

I thought code 11 on a '95 chrysler product was IGN reference signal, which I believe is the crank sensor..

Well, code 11 is for Timing belt skipped 1 tooth or more from initial learned value; Intermittent loss of either camshaft or crankshaft position sensor;
No crank reference signal detected during engine cranking.

sthayer, if you indeed have a code 11, and your timing belt skipped a tooth, then you could have some big problems on your hands. You need to get scanner so you can get the P code. It will be more specific.

[corning_d3]

Aren't (P) Powertrain codes reserved for OBDII '96+ only?

[das2123]

Originally Posted by corning_d3

Aren't (P) Powertrain codes reserved for OBDII '96+ only?

All Neons, including all 95's manufactured as far back as February, 1994 are OBD-2 compliant.

[rsublime4life]

WOW! Gee, das, it doesnt seem like i was totally talking out of my ass now does it.

[das2123]

Originally Posted by rsublime4life

WOW! Gee, das, it doesnt seem like i was totally talking out of my ass now does it.

What are you talking about?