Please help,
I just recently replaced the head gasket in my 95 neon, and now there is something else wrong with it. Im guessing it has something to do with the reassebly. When i am maintaining a constant speed or rpms it will kind of sputter or miss. although this does not happen all the time. all of a sudden it gets better and runs normal. The engine also has decreased overall power, and somethimes while accelerating it will have almost no power in each gear until it hits higher rpms. Once it hits higher rpms it will kind of catch, then there will be a lot more power. Anyone have any ideas?

 

did you change your plugs by any chance?

 

Who changed the head gasket? Almost sounds like timing is off. Advanced to far which is maing crappy low end with a better high end power.

 

But yea spark plugs and wires that are bad will also do that. But I figured that was a basic thing you checked already?

 

check fuel pressure also.

 

my engine does the same thing...not to the extreme that yours is....but im having issues with electrical power in my car....it sometimes sputters and dies others not, im not sure if its the altenator crappin out or not....not really sure, but try testing your batter and altenator(load and just running) and test the amps to, see if there is any electrical power loss that way, and if not i got nothin:P

 

Heres what I'm wondering... Did you buy new head bolts or did you reuse your old bolts? old bolts stretch once they are used once and proper torque specs are impossible to get perfect on old bolts, chances are if you used the old bolts the seal isn't the greatest and you could have a leak which would cause improper compression and the thing to be a pooch.

 

I did replace the plugs and the plug wires

 

did you buy new head bolts and do the proper torque on them? first tighten to 25ftlbs then 50ftlbs then loosen then 25 then 50 again ?

Was the head surface and block surface cleaned properly? If even the slightest amount of dirt, grime or greaseis on the head surface you could have a small leak in your head gasket. Tell me more so we can cross this off the list!