Hello, my name is Mike and I own a 1999 Dodge Neon SOHC. I've been having some problems with it lately and today a more major problem happened. I think I know what's wrong but I wanted to run it by the people here who obviously know a lot more than me, heh.

I searched the forum and found some threads of people who have a very similar problem to mine, if not the exact same, but I didn't feel confident I knew what the problem was after reading them so I'm hoping to get some direct help.

Today the car started to sputter like crazy, it didn't want to accelerate and if it did it was very hard and chugging like crazy. When it happened the CEL was flashing and after awhile it finally stalled and wouldn't start for a few minutes.

It will start up fine and idle fine if you don't move the car but once you put it into Drive (Automatic) after a few feet it will sputter again on and off, mostly sputtering.

I checked the engine codes by turning the key and it said "12 - 43 - 43 - 43 - 55." My girlfriend took the car to the autostore and they ran the codes and told me it was Cylinder #4. I wasn't there unfortunately and I don't know which P code it actually said, which I know is a problem in helping to identify the cause, and it could have said Multiple and not just 4 if he read it wrong, but that is just speculation on my part.

Anyways, I read more threads and saw about checking the fuel pressure by the valve, I think it's called the Schrader(?) valve. I let the car run for a few minutes and then pushed in the valve and a decent strength spray of fuel came out, about a foot long.

I then did another test and this time I drove the car until the sputtering happened then immediately turned the car off and did it again. This time fuel sprayed out for about half a second and then nothing. I was thinking that the Fuel Pump is bad.

As far as what I did:

I changed the Spark Plugs with some NGK ones.
I put some HEET in the gas tank because the Fuel Filler Neck must have a hole in it because when I fill-up gas leaks out of the Neck. I'm thinking with all the rain lately that water might have gotten in and destroyed the Pump/Assembly, does that sound plausible/possible?

I was trying to get to a junkyard and replace the Neck when I noticed the leak a few days ago but couldn't get their quick enough apparently.

My apologies for a long post and I thank all in advance for any help/guidance you may have.

 

I think 43 is multiple cylinder misfire. Could be caused by a fuel issue but I would start with a basic tune up (plugs wires), then possibly a coil pack. You need to use a fuel pressure gauge to diagnose the fuel issue. The car also needs to be running to check static fuel pressure. The car only primes the pump if its not running, and that wont be much fuel.

 

I have been having this same problem for months and after replacing everything possible with no change I concluded that it MUST be the catalytic converter. BUT... I havnt been able to afford it so I just dealt with it until the other day... I took my car to an automotive shop to just have them do a brake inspection... they wanted to test drive it so I explained the CC was not doing well so drive her "gently"... when the tech came back he was having doubts as to it being the CC so he didnt tell me at the time but he put it on his computer to read the codes.. he then came to me and said the codes are reading cyl 4.. not the CC... I said I knew that but Ive already replaced EVERYTHING else in the ignition system. He proceeded to explain that most people dont know that there are "tube seals" that need to be replaced with the spark plugs. They are located under the valve cover and if they were out the oil goes right into the cylinder(s) and the problems begin! I was totally trippin... I had never heard of them and no one had told me! So I bought the tube seals and 4 new spark plugs and a new valve cover gasket and installed them all... and I cant believe how easy this fix was! Im a woman and I usually do my own car repairs as long as its not an engine rebuild and I was able to start to finish in less than an hour! AND it has taken care of the oil "leak" that I couldnt find! HAHA! Anyway... might want to try this... much cheaper than a CC!!!

 

Thank you very much for this informative piece! Most of the time, people post their problems, some suggestions are made, but a solution is never posted. PITA when you have the same problem and are hoping for a "try this solution it worked for me" only to find half empty threads going nowhere!

 

I'm having the exact same problem. Anybody figure this out? My valve cover gasket and tube seals are basically new so that isn't the problem. When I floor the gas pedal it sounds like the engine is dieing and there no power coming from it.

 

Any check engine lights besides the misfire code? Need to check plugs and then gap, injector spray, fuel pressure, compression, vacuum reading, check timing, check for restriction in the exhaust or intake, and check for vacuum leaks. Wouldn't hurt to watch sensor like the tps and map on a scanner.

To check a bad cat you drill a hole before the cat and stick a vacuum gauge in. Start the car and jack the pedal, if it goes higher then 3 or 4 psi there is a restriction in the exhaust. When done weld the whole shut. I seen readings of 15-20psi on the last cat I diagnosed, it was very very underpowered and the exhaust seemed restricted at the tail pipe also which led me to it.

Does the car smell like rotten eggs? This is common with running rich or a bad cat.

 

The only other code I have is the P0300 code and the p0171 code. I've changed spark plug and wires 2 months ago. Cat has been replaced about 1 year ago , and also no vacuum leaks. This started happening right after I ran out of gas. I'm wondering if the pump sucked anything in from the bottom of the tank. I never done fuel pressure test yet. What is the recommended psi reading at the fuel rail? Also no rotting egg smell. Oh almost forgot the other day I heard the engine backfire made 2 quick loud popping sounds.

 

Should be a little under 50psi. Jack the throttle and make sure it holds. If you check everything I mentioned i am sure something will turn up. You said you installed plugs, what plugs, what gap? If I use anything but copper oem the car runs a little funny.

 

It only does it sometimes. When I floor it she flys but at other times when I floor it to get onto the highway it sounds like she's under water choking and I got no power

 

I bought some NGK plugs and the gap I dont remember i looked in the Haynes manual for the right gap size.