hi. i own a 98 neon DOHC. with 70k miles on it

when i purchased the car i replaced the plugs and wires, radiator, PCM valve.

a few monthes after i got the car i noticed it became very hard to start. especially when there is low fuel content. at first the car would be ok all the way down to below a quarter tank of gas (in which case it wont start at all) it gradually got worse and worse and now the car will not start with anything less than a half a tank. it also will start backfiring and running really terrible when there is anything less than 3 quarters of a tank in it. one very odd thing is it backfires whenever i go around left hand turns, doesnt happen at all on right hand turns only left? when the gas falls below a quarter tank the car will just start backfiring and die.

when i hooked it up i got errors from the following:

cylinder 4 misfire
fuel pressure error
vaccum hose leak


i have checked all the plugs (which are only about 3k miles old), and checked as much wiring as i can for chafing. nothin.


i was also burning some oil. but i used one of those head gasket fixes, and it seems to have worked. the odd thing is the oil light never once came on even when there was very low oil content

the car did sit for a good year in the cold without being driven.
i got the car for 200$ and have invested about 600$ into it thus far. it ran fine for a few weeks, then started acting up.

i dont think the fuel pump could cause a backfire, so i've kind of ruled that out.

any adivce would be greatly appreciatted, most people seem puzzled when i tell them whats wrong.

 

check the fuel filter. and what type of plugs did u use? if u put in platinum plugs then take them out asap and put in stock champions.

 

cannot seem to find any kind of inline filter for the 98 neon DOHC.
i think i see one under there, but no stores seem to carry one?

yes they are platinum plugs, will try replacing soon, but i would like to do it all at once but no stores have a filter for my neon.

 

sadly i think the 97+'s have the filter in the tank. on my 95 i just went to Autozone and got one. someone like Das or Spud will know for sure if the filter is in the tank or not.

 

looks like its a FPR/filter which luckily is outside the tank.

not sure though information on the net is vauge

 

i'm pretty sure on the later models it's inside the tank

 

if you have a plastic tank, its inside, and really a big filter and doesnt clog easily, 97+ had it.
some later 96's had plastic tanks.
95-96 steel tank had an external filter.
if your fuel pressure is low it may be time for a new pump, they like to get weak and cause some problems.