In short my friend's 2.0 had a piston blow up after I told him for the past 3 months his head gasket was bad, had a 1/8th an inch hole between 1 and 2 cylinder turns out. He got a motor from a friend that was from an 05 neon. His car is a 2003, manufactured in 10/02 if it makes a difference. The problem I now run into is that the knock sensors on the front of the motors are different and the crank sensor location is different although they are the same sensor it appears. The motor from the 03 has the crank sensor near the starter and the 05 one has a crank sensor under the alternator in the back. Maybe he was wrong and it's not an 05 motor? Or maybe it's a CA emissions? I have no idea I'm a GM guy and I need some help on figuring out if I can put this new motor successfully in his car, I already have the blown one out. Thanks guys

 

"CA emissions" doesn't really apply to newer cars; they are 50 state compliant. The only difference in motors that I know of (or at least, remember right now) is '00'02 and '03-'05 due to the different sensors used for the different PCMs used.

 

AnyOne else have input I don't wanna put this motor in with a different position crank sensor and then have the motor not run.

 

Do both of the sensor look the same in the two different spots? The sensors have always been in the same spots AFAIK, just different sensors themselves (different outputs/wiring). The knock sensor is near the starter under the intake manifold, and the crankshaft position sensor is under the alternator near-ish the oil filter.

 

Yes both of the crankshaft sensors look identical. One under the starter hole, one under the alternator. Both knock sensors are in the same spot. This is really annoying this car has been in my shop for a month. I'll take pictures and load them tonight.

 

what did you find out? None of my dodge buddy's know either...=(