Starter Problem???

[optimum product]

I need your help. daughter was driving her 99 Neon, It dien going up the off ramp. I pulled it home. Tried starting it. All I heard was a whirling sound like that from an electrical motor th
ats not driving what it should be.. Back in the day i would say the starter isn't engaging but with all these fancy electronics who knows? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Rich

[denisond3]

The starters on Neons are about like any other, and while they do eventually fail - that would not explain why the car quit running. The engine would definitely stop running however, if the timing belt failed. Timing belts on Neons should be replaced every 100,000 miles (the idler pulley should also be replaced at this time), or they may skip a few cogs or break. And if you tried to start the car afterwards, the starter would not make its usual pulsing sound, but would spin the motor with a more steady hummming sound. If your Neon is the double overhead camshaft (DOHC), when the timing belt breaks it will have bent valves, so the engine head would have to come off. If its the single overhead cam engine (SOHC), it -might- have bent valves, or it might not.
When you have the timing belt replaced, you will have paid for most of the labor involved in accessing the water pump too - so its a good idea to replace that at the same time.