Please help me I'm going NUTS
 

98 Dodge Neon 2.0L DOHC

I hope someone can help me with this. It all started when I noticed I had a oil leak on my 98 dodge neon DOHC. I thought it was the head gasket leaking, which wouldn't be a surprise, but it turned out to be a cam seal leaking. My mechanic replaced the cam seal and at the same time did the waterpump, timing belt, and timing belt tensioner. When he was putting everything back together he noticed it had many vacuum leaks so he fixxed them. When it was all back together it idle wierd. My mechanic said give it a couple days and see if the problem stops, guess what it didn't. The idling kinda goes up and down and just doesn't sound like it use to. Since he did this work I have replaced the PCV valve, EGR valve, map sensor, and tps sensor. I also let my mechanic take another round on it and he tried to reset something in the computer but it wouldn't reset. I bought a used computer and put it in and he reset something. Within a hour of driving my vehicle the check engine light came on. I ran the codes and found that the timing was off, so he fixed that, but yet it still idles like crap. So the last thing he did, was drill through my tps sensor and make it adjustable, it hasn't help. I have cleaned the IAC motor and throttle body a couple times and did one of those fuel induction things to clean the injectors. I also have new NGK plugs and wires and K&N air filter installed. It runs better with a vacuum leak but not good. My gas mileage is in the crapper and I'm almost bald from ripping my hair out. What's up?

RE: Please help me I'm going NUTS
 

Any mechanic that drills a cam sensor has to be a ****in moron. I'm willing to bet its a tooth out of time still.

RE: Please help me I'm going NUTS
 

some people here were talking about that and said that when they replaced the alternator that the idle went back to normal
get a used one from a junk yard. since new ones are about 180$

RE: Please help me I'm going NUTS
 

but if it ran good b4 the mechanic fixed it,i think the mechanic is the poblem,i dont think its the altenater,i replaced a dozen on neons and never came across this problem,,i would have to agree withracerx55

RE: Please help me I'm going NUTS
 

I am having a simular problem. I changed the timing belt and can assure you it is in time, but idles rough. I talked to a doge neon guy and he told me that the Chrysler PCM learns when the engine skips time and the pcm could be reading that the one tooth off before as it's new reference point, which will show it to be off time, when it is actually correct. I am also waiting for a response to my post. The neon guy told me to take it to the Dodge dealer and have them reprogram the PCM. You can get this done for around $83. Good luck and let me know if you find something that works.

RE: Please help me I'm going NUTS
 

Hey thanks guys, I didn't want to take it to dodge but it seems that I'll have too. My mechanic is an awesome mechanic on older vehicles, but on new ones it seems like it is best guess for him and this is the guy I'm suppose to apprentice under. Maybe time for new job soon. I'll try and book it in soon with dodge and let you guys know what happens. If I get this engine running right, I'm going to start upgrading it, any engine modifications you can suggest will be great. Thanks again.

RE: Please help me I'm going NUTS
 

My car is running awesome now. The timing was out. So I'm not to happy right now but I'm glad it's running good.

RE: Please help me I'm going NUTS
 

Alternator would have NOTHING to do with his problem...I notice dohcgarret likes to just throw things out there... Do you actually work on cars..or just used daddys credit card for a turbo, and now think your a mechanic.?

RE: Please help me I'm going NUTS
 

No, I'm on my own. Just starting out being a mechanic. Going for my first year of schoolin March. Everything I have I've done myself. I just haven't had much experience with neons yet and I just can finally afford to have some fun with my car. Any help is appreciated.

RE: Please help me I'm going NUTS
 

Okay, Litsten here[sm=smiley35.gif] sucker one i have my own job making 4480 a month dont need daddys credit card.
I seen it posted on one post about the idle being speratic and it stated something about the alternator so i put it in there. not a big deal. excepr for some smart ass wanna be like you who used his daddys credit card up utill about a year ago.