So I was driving my neon today and a hit a light after about 1 min of driving. When I went to accelerate on green, it did so very slowly - the engine sounded like it was revving, but not much acceleration. When I hit another red light, I went to park and then back to drive, and it sounded and felt like it was going to stall - when green I had the same problem when I hit the gas...very slow. So on the next light I switched down to drive 3, and turned off my radio and heat, and it seemed to work. I got home, turned my car pff for about 1 min, and then turned it back on and tried to get the problem to repeat itself on my street, but it worked fine - I had no problems with the drive. I know my car needs an alignment, but that shouldn't cause acceleration problems should it? I mean, I had the gas almost floored and got almost no acceleration. Could it be the battery?

 

No it's not the battery or alignment. Have you done the key cycle trick to see if you have any codes?

Instructions
1.Insert key into ignition.

2.Starting at the off position, turn the key to the on position, back to the off position, once again to the on position, once again to the off position, and finally to the on position one last time. To summarize, that's three sets of Off to On sequences, starting from the initial insertion of the key.

3.Be ready! The code(s) will then read out on your odometer. The codes should start with a 'P' which will be followed by four numbers.

Like for example P0898

 

I did what you said (thanks for the tip by the way), but it just shot back "done" and then a line of under scores (like "_ _ _ _ _ ")

 

Your trans slipped.
It will do that again.

Fill more trans fluid if it's low.

 

When was the last time your plugs and wires were changed?

 

If your engine revved, but your car won't move then possibly, the trans is slipping.

If your car won't move because the engine is running rough/miss firing, then fix that.
Also, no power is often the cause of a plugged cat.

 

What are the most common issues that will cause lack of power in a neon.

Sometimes I wonder if its just because, I have a basic high mileage (13x,xxx,) low hp neon or if its that some things may need to be replaced cleaned and or fixed

 

All Dodge neon cars are lack of power, except the turbo charged versions.
When I turned my AC on, I did not have enough power to go up hill.
People who drive behind me must get mad at me, but there is nothing I can do. I have a slow car.
In return for lack of power, I get 25 miles/gallon in the city.
It's an automatic. I think that is good for an old car.

 

...any car: not performing maintenance at proper intervals. Is your check engine light on?

 

I've learned to keep my neon empty of junk I don't need to carry around, just a few tools & a 12v impact wrench that's made my neon from being slower then most honda's around hehe

But tune ups and tired air'd up correctly is just the norm.

I can drive up hill's with the a/c and 4 fattys in the car with no problem unless it's stop and go then it struggles a bit, but that's all 4 bangers you just get used to it