TEMP Gage wacks out and my car doesnt start unless I tap the nut on the starter

[MrStich]

On my 97 plymouth neon

I had gotten a new starter and the mech told me that I needed new solenoid, I didnt realy know what that was and I am now having problems starting. It makes a clicking noise then after so many trys it doesnt do anything. I will tap it on the left side on the nut then later it works, I dopnt know what that is..

My temp gage goes up to hot when im driving in the day and then drops down to nomal the hits hot again and reapeats.. My engine is not over heating.. would the oxygen sensor have anything to do with that? cause i got it scaned at autozone and the computer rea that my O2 sensor wasnt active. Please help!

[das2123]

The soleniod is what is making the ticking sound and is probably going out on you. Tapping it kinda helps kick start it. Can't replace just the solenoid, so you have to replace the starter.

Your temp problem is probably a sensor not making good contact or may need to be replaced. Which O2 sensor is not working? You have 2 of them.

[MrStich]

Originally Posted by MrStich

Im not sure if I have two but I know its not working cause they told me that on the scan.. im hoping thats what it it. I replaced the starter new and I have had two people saying you can replace the solenoid itself. Im so confused, =( What does it look like?

Im not sure if I have two but I know its not working cause they told me that on the scan.. im hoping thats what it it. I replaced the starter new and I have had two people saying you can replace the solenoid itself. Im so confused, =( What does it look like?

[das2123]

Well I think you can replace just the solenoid, but you gotta find the part. Anyway, before you do that get under the car and check to make sure all your connections are tight and clean. Clean the contacts, you may just be having a bad connection.

You do have 2 O2 sensors, an upstream and downstream. If the scan said it wasn't working it should have said which one. Another thought, if you had recently disconnected the battery, it would have reset the PCM and you would have to drive around 50-100 miles for the O2 sensors to get ready to be tested.

[MrStich]

Originally Posted by das2123

Well I think you can replace just the solenoid, but you gotta find the part. Anyway, before you do that get under the car and check to make sure all your connections are tight and clean. Clean the contacts, you may just be having a bad connection.

You do have 2 O2 sensors, an upstream and downstream. If the scan said it wasn't working it should have said which one. Another thought, if you had recently disconnected the battery, it would have reset the PCM and you would have to drive around 50-100 miles for the O2 sensors to get ready to be tested.

Yea I have driven around about 200 miles up. I will check wich one cause when i was looking up the sensors it says theres a front and a rear, I checked the connects all are tight and clean.. im not sure but im still working with it. Thanx for helping me. Im hoping to get it up and going. I need a new cat converter my acceloration is extremley weak./