I got a 1996 Dodge Neon Highline, 2.0l SOHC 5-speed. I just started having this problem, during summer temperatures I'll be out driving for a bit and then I'll lose my accelerator. It feels to me as if the car is losing fuel pressure, due to the bucking and surging it has when I try to take off. It doesn't idle too well when this happens either. No Check Engine Light. I tested the TPS sensor with an analog meter and it moves from about 4.00v to .5v smoothly, no glitches or spikes. I have fuel pressure at the schrader valve on the fuel rail (Unsure as to how much due to lack of fuel pressure guage). The temperature guage doesnt even get to halfway on the guage, so I know its not overheating. No vacuum lines are off and theres no aftermarket parts on this vehicle. In the mornings when its cool outside, I can drive the car however long I want, but when the outside temperatures get above 85 or so after about 20 minutes of driving it stalls out and is hard to restart, and has the issues stated above. Any suggestions??

 

I guess the only thing I would try first is to check the fuel pressure and make sure the alternator belt is in good working condition, I noticed on my R/T when it stalls I have good fuel pressure but the altenator belt is tore up due to a bent bracket, possable uue to being overtightend

 

Change your camshaft position sensor 

 

yeah, lets start with the cheap stuff first.

 

X^2 on the fuel pressure check that.Then at least you will have a starting point. I am not a fan of spending money on parts i am not sure i need. So i never suggest just buying a part and hoping it is gonna fix the problem. :-)

 

any modifications? It can throw a code without turning on the check engine light. turn the key to on and back off 3 times w/o starting it and leave it on the third time. next, count the number of times the check engine light flashes...there's a pause between numbers and it flashes 5 times twice when it's done (55).

 

Hmm, well I also don't like spending money on parts when I am unsure. I already checked for DTC's with my scanner, none found. The car is completely stock. When I can locate a fuel pressure tester I'll test it when the problem occurs, see what I'm getting. What is proper fuel pressure specs for this vehicle?

 

hmmm...have you checked to see if you still got spark? that's also one thing you haven't checked yet.

 

check with your local auto parts store most will have a loan a tool program.also not to sure of the sohc but if your coil has a ground wire check that heat makes things expand and it dont take much to cause a bad ground to loose spark. just a thought

 

Well I just got a fuel pressure tester from a friend today and plugged it in this morning when temp was about 75 degrees F. Fuel pressure was 48psi. I'm going to go back out now with ambient well above 85 and retest, drive car until concern duplicates, then retest. I'll have some more info for you in a bit.


UPDATE:: Drove vehicle a total of 31 miles just now (3:24pm pt) and at approximately 28 miles my fuel pressure dropped from 49 to 0. Once I let the car cool down for about 5 minutes, got another 2 miles down the road and lost fuel pressure again. When I turned the key to the "ON" position, I hear the fuel pump groan for a few seconds then shut off. How hard is it to change the fuel pump and sending unit on this hoopty???