So we just paid only $600 for the car and it is in a very good shape overall; however, we are getting quite a bit of white smoke coming from the exhaust. The smoke smells as if the car is running too rich, but it doesnt smell too bad. As if it is lots of steam and some raw gas mixed together.
I suspected a blown gasket, but it seems like the engine oil and the coolant are both clear and clean.

Any thought guys?

 

My only guess right now is that its coolant

 

The coolant level looks fine, and the color looks right. I also have a check engine light but I have not had the chance to read codes.
I feel a bit of misfire as well, but we are in Wash DC and it snowed real bad today. So it may be the damp cold weather affecting ignition?!

Additionally, my GF was driving the car and she felt quite a bit of power loss when she shifted to the 3rd gear. The car started losing power as if it is about to turn off. That issue never happened again, so I suspected it could have been some bad gas. I am just telling you this to see if it has anythign toddo with teh smoke :-)

 

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you...n_a_Dodge_Neon

This is for the Onboard Diagnostics for Neons...See if it works...Good Luck

 

Thank you for this excellent advice, this is what I got:
12
21
21
55

I am assuming that the 21 repeat means that both sensors are out. Still wouldnt explain the white clouds though?!

 

That would be a good conclusion...It might explain the smoke in the fact that the PCM is the brains of the operation and the O2 sensors determine how much mixture is needed

 

Thank you, is there any tutorial or diagram that shows how to remove/replace the sensors? I am not sure where to find them really.
PS. I found some written directions but it would be MUCH easier for me if there are photos of the procedure somewhere.

 

Sorry Mayn, cant find one yet...The first one is on the intake manifold before the mixture goes into the combustion chamber whereas the second one is right after the catalytic convertor...Its not bad to replace them if you have a wrench...I will still try and find you a diagram

 

scratch the intake and make it exhaust manifold sorry

 

http://www.allpar.com/neon/repairs.html

Here's a better description, but Im not sure if its for the first generation or the second...It should give you a nice idea on what to do though (Its bout a third the way down the page)...Good Luck!