I bought a used 2003 dodge neon sxt the guy said he had smoke coming from the engine a couple months ago and took it in to get looked at they changed a cracked radiator and said the head gasket needed to be replaced. Now I was kinda hoping they were just trying to get one up on him or whatever and I don’t mind fixing the head gasket myself if I have to but if I don’t then cool. Here are the symptoms
-Boiling noise coming from the engine sometimes at idle but normally after I shut the car off
-Temp gauge fluctuates quickly up and down
-No hot air from the ac
-has only happened twice and I decided to let it it sit till I get it fixed after this but I stalled the car the other day turned it back on a puff of smoke or steam came out the engine bay and yesterday I shut it off it made a weird sound started boiling and I looked under the car and some fluid had spilled on the ground
anybody have an opinion as to if this might be the head gasket or the water pump?

 

I would order a head gasket set and a timing set with water pump.do both seeing how the water pump will be accessible when you do the head gasket.

 

Generally, you won't get hot air from the a/c unless it's broken. The 4 banger in the P cars is bad about blowing head gaskets. I'd replace the water pump and timing belt while you have the head off.