Catching up on maintenance on a '97 Neon (automatic w/138K). This is my sister in-law's car and she's hopeless. I'm trying to bring it back from the dead. It doesn't appear to need major engine work. So far all I've done is the oil pressure sender (was leaking something fierce) and wiper blades. The water pump's leaking too. Here's what I have planned for the coming weeks. I'm open to other suggestions.

Timing belt - Haynes shows reusing the tensioner, replace?
Water pump - Fresh coolant and thermostat.
Upper motor mount probably.
Oil change Purolater Pure One filter
Fuel filter
Transaxle flush and fill. The fluid looks and smells okay now but, it's slow to go into gear in the morning.
New plugs - copper NGKs unless someone tells me there's a problem with them.
I believe the EGR's been replaced. It looks new.
Clean up the throttle body and run some Sea Foam in the intake.
Techron to clean up the injectors.

Right now the car sounds weird almost like an exhaust leak but, it's not the exhaust. I'm hoping I'll fix that with the water pump or I'll find a belt driven device that's noisey when I do the timing belt. Other problems that I'll deal with later:

There's something wrong with the vent selector switch. The vents are stuck on defrost but, the switch points up and a little towards the driver's side. If you turn the selector, it just pops back to that position. I haven't a clue on this one. Please post if you know what's going on.
A/C isn't working. It might start if I get the vent selector working. I can do this kind of work if I get the system evacuated.

I'm planning to get what parts I can from Advance or Autozone. If you have a brand preference on any of the parts, let me know. I have a pretty good idea how to do most of the work and I have a Haynes. If I hit a snag, I'll post on the specific problem. In case you hadn't guessed, I'm not that knowledgeable about Neons. I'm pretty good with a wrench and I do know Saturns though.

Help or suggestions on any of the above will be appreciated.

 

well the NKG's are good just stay away from the bosh +4's and then i noticed you didnt mention anything about an air filter. or coil pack
as for the vent selector switch you have a sticky damper on the inside and when you twist the **** the cable just kinks and acts as a spring. if you grab the dash right above the stearing wheel where the guage cluster window is and push up it should pop off like a lego block. set that aside and then there are some screws for the next picec that goes from over the radio to the passenger side you remove screws and open passenger door to remove the next dash piece remove black plastic that goes to center vents now if you turn the vent selector switch you will see whats going on.
you can now move the cable more less by hand to get it working again. it only sticks for me if i run the heat on high for awhile.
good luck

 

She had a tune up a year ago. The wires appear to be fairly new. It's not running too bad. There's a lot of vibration but, that feels more like motor mount than a miss. I just wanted to do the plugs to make sure they are okay and not some freaky plugs like the Bosch 4s. I've had that, whatever that big plastic thing is that goes over the top of the engine, off and the air filter looks okay.

Thanks for the info about the selector.

 

plugs and wires should be changed ever 10,000 miles and coil pack at 100,000. . im not sure on that one though
other then that i would at least pull the airfilter out and maybe vaccume it off good luck with everything