My mom has a 2001 Neon, SE, and the car has some problems. It has around 45k on the car. It is not throwing a check engine light either. When warm, at times, the car will buck and struggle. While it bucks, if you floor the gas pedal, it won't do anything, then suddenly take off.

Another thing it will do is when at a stop light, the idle will get really low, and shut off. When trying to start it back up, it cranks a great deal, then finally starts.

I've already done a tune-up on it, and put fuel injector cleaner in the gas tank. It seems to me like it's fuel related, but I'm stuck. I usually don't work on domestics, so I'm stuck. Please, help me out! Thanks.

 

change your catalytic converter if that doesnt work check your EGR valve.....but it should be your CAT. it sounds like your motors not breathing right.

 

The cat shouldn't be bad at 45K. I would say it sounds like a weak fuel pump. Check your fuel presure.

 

I heard that these year neons have a fuel regulator, but not a filter... but the regulator actually has a filter in it... would cleaning it help out?

 

Well you should probably do some basics like check EGR which is easy. Just get a vacuum pump pull the hose off the EGR valve and attach the pump and see when the EGR valve opens and if it is shutting(Don't forget to plug the vacuum line you pull). This could be a simple cause. I am not positive but I do not think this car has a flow sensor for the EGR like Ford so you PCM may not pick up the valve remaining open.

If it opens or remains open under very light vacuum you have a problem.

 

Check simple stuff first like a plugged air filtter or hose,broken vacuum line or bad plug wire. Often it's the stuff you overlook that is the cause.