In your case it sounds like a short, sensor, or still possibly a cat. It can only be something intermittent then. If I had to diagnose this issue I would go with the customer and a scanner and data log sensor streams. I would replay them and see what changed. A fuel filter or regulator may cause it to go lean, but this is something should be able to see by watching the sensors. Of course I would smack the cat a few times then maybe pressure check it, and look the wiring over before I would start the datalog. Also how much is it losing power? A lot? a little?

 

It loses all of its power. When the I floor it and the power is gone the engine revs up but its not picking up any speed and then it sounds like it's drowning and starts shaking pretty bad. If I feather the pedal the car moves fine but still shakes a bit. I'm totally stumped. I've never had this problem before. The day I ran out of gas is the day this problem started. I'm thinking its the fuel filter or regulator, it might have picked up some junk off the bottom of the tank and restricting fuel flow to the engine.

 

Sorry it doesn't really rev up it just sounds like it struggles to pick up speed then just starts shaking. I have to pull over let the car sit for a minute or two then start it up and sometimes its fine and sometimes just continues what its doing. This morning I started the car waited 5 min for it to warm up and it went with no problems what so ever. On my way back home from work it started to shake a bit but still had all the power.

 

I found a video on youtube and he has the same thing I have. Take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...=Ba6B3ZdAt0w#!

 

Yea I would just check over everything I mentioned in the last few posts, something should turn up. Could easily be a fuel or map issue.

 

Alright will do. Thanks for your help. Ill post the solution if I solve it.

 

Please do, or any finding along the way. I may be able to help point you in the right direction I just need some more info.

 

Where is the fuel filter located? I checked the fuel pressure and it was at 48 psi when the car was running fine and then when the engine started shaking it dropped to 34 psi. I'm starting with the fuel filter because its the cheapest. My neon was made in late December of 1995 so they called it a 96. I've never changed the fuel filter since I bought the car in 1998 so its probably time to change it. I heard that the fuel filter is together with the pump so i'm kind of confused. Could a clogged fuel filter make the check engine light come on, make the car run lean and start to misfire? I've never really worked with fuel on a car before so sorry if I sound inexperienced. I usually fix everything else but nothing to do with fuel.

 

Fuel pressure drop can be caused by a few thing. A restriction in the system like a clogged filter, a bad regulator, bad pump, or short/faulty wire. Dodge neon have whats called Fuel accumulators which sit outside the tank. They also have a filter/pickup screen on the pump. Depending on the style gas tank you have the fuel regulator can be found externally on the plastic tanks, and internally on the metal tanks.

 

I did another fuel pressure test today and man it was bad. The needle was jumping between 20 and 30psi. Wouldn't stay still. When I gave it some gas it dropped down to 15. I was lucky yesterday when I hit 48psi. I tried 3 times and all 3 turned out the same. Do you think it could be the pump because I changed that about a year and a half ago. I hope its not that again.