Well, I ended up getting a 99 Neon Automatic DOHC from a car auction, hoping things would go well, and little did I know what was in store.

First of all as I drove to my Uncle's shop to look over the car, I noticed
-The indicator switch had to be jiggled around and pushed and held strongly in a certain direction for the blinkers to stay on.
-When the left blinker went on it blinked rapidly, which I took to mean that my left blinker light was probably out (it was, however the light goes on with the break lights)
-The car rapidly over heated after one mile

Eventually I got the car to the shop, I bought a multitude of new things for the car and took the engine apart, replacing nearly every gasket. After close inspection we realized that the head gasket was broken, and this was causing the car to over heat. Of course we replaced the belts, all the gaskets, the filters, alot of commonly replacable parts in the engine.

The car drove averagely for the next week, however for some odd reason it would idle at awkwardly low grumbling RPMs. Around 5-600 in drive, and about 8-1000 in neutral. This didn't happen ALL the time, but most of the time it idled very low and shaky like this. Other times it would idle at about 1000 but drop down to 5-800 for a couple second then go back.

Soon after I noticed a couple other things that had happened or were happening to the car.
-The passenger side door only opened from the outside (very frustrating)
-One of the belts on the engine was rapidly squeaking with acceleration AND while idling.

Eventually the battery light went on, so I checked out the car. For some reason the alternator belt had flipped itself over.
I flipped it back and tightened it and all and the car worked better for about a week (of course it still idled low)

Eventually the belt started squeaking yet again, and I checked it yet again, and this time the belt had been shred to pieces. And of course my battery light went on soon after. So I took it back and replaced the shredded alternator belt (which had just dissapeared by the time I brought it in)....

Finally a week after this the belt started squeaking like mad, more then it ever had before. Wherever I drove was a constant squal pretty much. I repeatedly checked the engine but the alternator belt stayed in place fine. Eventually, as has happened before, my battery light went on and the car battery just died. However this time, the alternator belt is secured to the engine, without cuts or anything.

Well, any ideas on anything practical I could do to get this car at least running without my battery light turning on? I'm a poor college student and don't have the money for a mechanic, but if this is unfixable by me I need to know so I can start saving.
I really like the neon and would love to see it in a consistent working order. It only has 99,000 miles on it.

Thanks alot....

Jon

 

The blinker coming on with the brakes is the multi-function switch not working correctly. Go to a junkyard and pull one for about $15.

Does the car squeal when you start the car up? If so, something may not be aligned properly.

 

Yeah, it squeals like crazy right at startup and throughout driving....

 

99,000... have u or has the timing belt been changed? as well as the water pump?

 

Make sure the crank pulley and power steering pulley are lined up with the belt.

 

you should have just gotten a MTX DOHC for less than $1000 on craigs list...

well depending where you live...

 

SOME of the time you will get sold a belt that has an improper shape. the "v" shape of the belt will be too wide. this will cause the outside edges of the belt to wear, then the belt is loose again (not too common). keep in mind EVERY time you replace a belt it will have to be tightened up after running for a while (it gets hot and stretches a bit). DAS knows his stuff. the blinker switch is not an uncommon prob, good luck.