i just bought a 95 sohc neon and it spits and sputters from time to time, however if you feather the gas pedal or downshift it goes away. Any ideas what this could be or what I should be looking at. Would like to try the simple things before getting into the complicated stuff.

Thanks, Caleb

 

The car is also showing code 12 , which makes sense because the previous owner just put in a new battery.

also pulling code 21 (O2 sensor problem)

the #2 spark plug wire is also wrapped in tape as it looks like it chaffed on the underside of the hood.

could these be part of the problem?

 

yeap it could be da spark plug wire. replace it for a new one

 

Update:

Today i took my brother for a drive and the car worked great and then all of a sudden it started to really loose power, and fethering the gas and shifting weren't making it better. We pulled to the side of the road, shut the car off and turned it back on and it ran great the whole way home.

Maybe this will help narrow down the problem. Any ideas or thoughts would be appreciated.

 

you might be having computer problems ....did you take care out the o2 sensor problem???... if not id start there...also could be fuel pump ...or even the fuel filter..try the filter first ....the plug wires would also make it spit and sputterif the wires are arking to eachother or even the motor

 

Haven't changed anything on the car yet, don't get paid until tomorrow. I'll change the plugs, wires and o2 sensor first and maybe the fuel filter and I'll go from there.

 

Ok. First I changed the plugs and wires. No change.

Then I changed the fuel filter...thank you very much dodge for putting that mounting bolt on the frame behind the brake lines. The car drove further before doing the same thing.

Can my O2 sensor really be causing this much of a problem or should I be looking at the fuel pump? i havea fuel pressure gauge/regulator on the way so I can monitor the fuel pressure. If I'm getting ok pressure what else could it be? Maybe MAP sensor or TPS sensor?

I don't want to **** away hard earned money into parts I don't really need for a car I only paid $370 for.

Any ideas?

 

Check the fuel pressure at the rail, should be ~49 psi. And yes, a bad O2 sensor can make the car run like crap.

 

How about a messed up catalytic converter? Would that cause my car to lose power and then run fine after restarting for a few minutes before losing power again?

 

A clogged one could cause the car to run like crap as well as the O2 sensor.