Hi, This will be my first post. This seems like a really good forum with alot of good information and I plan to read through alot of it. I'm an amateur when it comes to cars but I'm looking at learning all about them and specifically my neon. This is the first car Ive had that I will be able to toy with and will be my ginnypig. I plan to get the Helms guide for the 98 neon soon as well. Any information or help to get me on the right track to learning the ins and outs about this car and automotives in general is much apreciated.

A few questions.

First, Ive noticed some kind of muck around the left sfront side under the hood. Here is a photo to show as well.

Any idea what this is? What to clean it up with? Is there something I should check?

Second,

When I turn my wheel very sharp or if sitting still and turn the wheel either direction at a certain ratious pollie starts to squeek and actually slows down on the spinning drematically. Ive had this in a shop (good year) twice and they said they fixed it and never did. So I need to take matters into my own hands plus I want to learn. I also have an image of the pollie that is doing this.


Again this is a 98 Dodge neon sport sadan.

Thanks in advanced for any insight.

-Ryan

 

Lexxerd,
Welcome to Dodge forum. That muck you are talking about I suspect it to be dye from the A/C dryer sitting there in the round hole. It's the cylinder w/ the hard lines coming out of it. It has previously been serviced and someone put some Freeon in it. the one that has the dye to detect leaks. That canister looks pretty new compaired to the rest of the system. For the power steering. check to see if the belt is tight, if not...you got a 15mm bolt you got to loosten right under the engine mount and one or two 13mm bolts on the back side of the pump. Just lossten them up and pull the power steering pump up to tighten, and tighten down the bolts.

 

Thanks sabin420 for the response. So it doesn't look like the dye is still coming out and a clean up is all thats needed. As far as tightening the power steering, the belt in my opinion is very loose. Correct me if Im wrong but there should be a decent tension and currently I can push in on the belt and it will push in roughly an inch. To get to all the bolts needed to tighten the belt, do I need to lift or remove the tire to get to any of these or can this all be done from the top? Can I do this with ramps and or jack?

 

it all can be done from the top

 

Appreciate the help, I will try this tomorrow and let you know if that fixed it.

 

is that PS belt on upside down?

 

Not that I'm aware of, it is shaped like this...

TOP

BOTTOM

 

I suggest that u go to the parts store buy a new PS belt and install it nice and tight .

If the AC still works I woudent worry too much about a freion leak.

 

oh and btw, I do believe it is upside down (or the wrong belt). I checked all my Neons today and the PS belt didn't have ridges on the top and one of them was installed by a Dodge dealer.

 

Thanks, I will get a new one put on there.