1998 inconsistent starts

[hotsauce4jc]

I bought 1998 dodge neon recently... it had been sitting for a long time when i bought it, and when i turn it on after its been sitting, it turns over for about 5 or 6 seconds when i start it before it kicks in...

if i go into the grocery store or the gas station and come back within a short amount of time, it starts no problem...

i know nothing about cars, as you may already be able to tell, so any help you could provde would be greatly appreciated...

thanks!

kyle

[neon_rt]

Which engine do you have?
Do you use Regular or Premium fuel?
The DOHC engines are "Premium fuel recommended" engines and
the SOHC engine is a "Regular fuel" engine.
Feeding these the incorrect fuel can lead to inconsistant starts and performance.
I suspect that your idle control solenoid may be a bit sticky also.
It's probably due for a tune up and fuel system cleaning
. If you are going to own cheap cars, you should start learning about the mechanics of them or you are going to get ripped off.

[das2123]

^^^I had a 99 DOHC and used regular gas with no starting problems.

If the car sat awhile, run some fuel injector cleaner through it with a fresh tank of gas and see how it goes. When you turn the key to ACC-ON, you should hear the fuel pump prime. Listen to how it sounds...it could be going bad.

[HPNOTIQracing]

it just sounds like it doesnt like to cold start. im gonna go with the octane of the gas has nothing to do with this. have you checked your plugs? possible fouled plug or more.

[neon_rt]

DAS,
On my Dohc Neon I got 28mpg on regular and 33mpg on premium.
Thats a 18% increase on MPG. With Premium fuel only 7% more expensive than Regular, I find it cheaper to run Premium. Dohcs using regular loose 4hp and 6lbs of torque from the factory rating. The factory uses Premium for the Power and MPG tests on Dohc's.
The '95 Dohcs actually have 150hp, after '95 they changed the cam and dropped to 146hp. Since there is less than 5hp diff, they are not required to re-rate the HP. Using regular drops another 4hp leaving you with 142hp.
The Sohcs have a similar story 132hp for '95, 130hp after 95. Take a 130hp sohc and install a performance computer you get 141hp and 140lbs of torque with premium fuel vs a stock Dohc 142HP and 125Lbs torque on Regular, some people with Dohcs wonder why they get their butt kicked by what seems to be a stock Sohc, now you know.

[das2123]

^^^You are preaching to the choir neon_rt. I merely stated that running regular gas did not result in inconsistent starts for me.

[HPNOTIQracing]

what the hell is he talking about. ramblin on about nothin AT ALL. what would you pointless babling have to do with this thread? your just trying to throw shit out there to impress someone like they will think you know what you are talking about.

another the last dohc i had never lost to any of the sohcs i raced and i now have a sohc with quite a few mods and its slower than the last stock dohc.
i guess i should look into my octane for the answers, right.

also after market computers DO NOT give you that much hp or tq gains. mabey 4-6 hp max. bout the same tq. or we could all move to your wonder world and have super fast cars.

[neon_rt]

The literature from MP stated 11hp and 11ft lbs torque increase on a SOHC (only 4hp for a DOHC).
I would think the factory would not overstate their products, but who knows.
You are babbling of topic too, so who cares.

[neon_rt]

According to a Fuel Injection site I was just on, a carboned up throttle body can cause slow starts when cold and carbon on the intake valves can cause hard starting when warm.
A fuel injection system cleaning may be needed to solve the problem.

[HPNOTIQracing]

Originally Posted by neon_rt

The literature from MP stated 11hp and 11ft lbs torque increase on a SOHC (only 4hp for a DOHC).
I would think the factory would not overstate their products, but who knows.
You are babbling of topic too, so who cares.

do you know what marketing propaganda means?

hey i never would think a company would build up thier product even past the truth

[HPNOTIQracing]

Originally Posted by neon_rt

According to a Fuel Injection site I was just on, a carboned up throttle body can cause slow starts when cold and carbon on the intake valves can cause hard starting when warm.
A fuel injection system cleaning may be needed to solve the problem.

thats why i mentioned the plugs. fouled(carbed) plugs will do the same