Hey guys, I need some help with my winter "beater" car. Its my '98 Neon Sport. It has been running shitty ever since I put in a set of Autolite spark plugs about a month ago. (long story, store was out of everything else, didn't have time to shop around) I had them in about a week and put a set of champions back in. Still running rough, figured a broke a plug wire while putting the plugs in, so I replaced the wires. Still running rough... I need HELP!
This thing purred like a kitten right up until those autolite plugs. I know its just a big coincidence and something else has probably gone wrong, I just can't figure out what.
Does anyone have access to a scan tool or something that could help me make sure my sensors are good? (O2, TPS, etc) Would anyone be willing to take a ride and see if you can figure out what's wrong? I even have access to the nice warm Autocraft Shop out at Offutt to fix it in if we can figure it out (flat bays, frame lifts, tools all provided). I'll buy pizza and beer afterwards!!! Im just sick over this, I have loved this car since the day I bought it. It has never up until now given me a problem that I didn't cause myself. Like I said before, this motor used to run so nice and smooth... I would really appreciate your help... If anyone is willing, shoot me a PM or something with your phone number and I will give you a call Saturday morning after 8am or so.
And no Tourek, I don't think it is jealous of the SRT-4, I have been driving the '98 since November.
get rid of those auto lite's their junk.Also check the wires for damage like burn spots in the plug end of the wires. I can get a DRBIII and check it out if need be.
I already replaced the autolites after about a week of running with them. I also have replaced the wires with no improvement. I would really love to check the TPS and O2 sensors if possible. It idles real rough, almost loping in a way like having a hotter cam in it or something. It has died at a couple stop signs, and every once in a while now it is getting hard to start.
I don't have anything to check the fuel pressure with at my immediate disposal. They MIGHT have something like that out at Offutt. This has been over several tanks of gas from different places. Always 92 or 93 as I have the Mopar Perrformance PCM in it. I have also ran a bottle of injector cleaner through each of the last two tanks to make sure things weren't getting gummed up. I haven't looked really close, but I have been under the hood while the car was running and I didn't smell any fuel, so I don't think it is a leaky injector. I will look more closely though. Not sure how to check the crank or cam sensors... Thanks for the ideas though, it gives me a starting point. I did kinda wonder about a weak fuel pump or plugged fuel filter, but someone else told me I would be more likely to get fuel cut at higher RPM's if that was the case.
Man, I still can't believe the offer of FREE pizza and beer didn't get me more replies from more people! I guess other Neon folk... errr I mean SRT-4 people aren't as cheap as I am!
Hey all Omaha people, Im back in town this weekend. I cleaned my IAC and things smoothed out a little, but there is still some roughness in there that was not there before. I woudl love to get this thing figured out and the pizza and beer offer still stands. Plus it would be cool to meet some other SRT-4 people in the Omaha area... No offense Tourek... not that you aren't cool and all.
Hey Donovan, I haven't checked out this board in a while. Sorry to hear about your car woes. I'm booked solid this weekend and I'm not too sure if I can fit any time in to help you out. I'll try and see what I can do.
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2003 Silver SRT-4
1998 Intense Blue R/T-traded in for current ride.
I just wanted to put a HUGE shout out for SRTTECH. Thanks for taking some time out of your day off and taking a look at my car. I even offered him lunch or dinner someplace for his time and he turned me down. I owe you one man!
As far as the car is concerend... We didn't pinpoint what was wrong, but he gave me a couple of things to try. It appears that it is running way rich and it is having an almost impossible time trying to pull it back to ideal. He sprayed some stuff (carb cleaner... looking for vacuum leaks I take it) around in the engine bay with no luck. Sooo... next is a couple cans of combustion chamber cleaner before the next oil change in a week or two. If I have time before that Im going to take SRTTECH's advice and check for a leaky fuel injector by popping the fuel rail off and turning the key on. Im also going to try a new O2 sensor... seems like that would be the problem with running rich and all, but it was reading and it was trying to pull fuel, so I dunno if it actually is the problem. Ahh well, thanks again man!!!
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Omaha area, need help with my winter "beater"
I know that cuts down my chances of getting some help...
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