I have a 2000 Dodge Neon with a little over 64,000 miles on it and so far it has been good to me. However, yesterday all was fine until later in the night it started to jerk while I drove. A rattle came from somewhere beneath or under the hood and it lurched back and forth as I drove. I pulled over and let it idle, gave it gas while in park and it sounded fine. Looked under the hood--saw nothing out of the ordinary, looked under the car for anything hanging--saw nothing. Started coasting down the road and when I gave it gas it started again. So I gunned it home in fear that I may get stuck in the middle of nowhere. I got home fine, although the car (engine?) did lurch a bit but nonetheless I made it home fine.

Two questions:

1. What could this be? Dirty Gas? Transmission? Spark plugs misfiring? Timing? Computer problem? (That reminds me, my car horn would beep by itslef a few weeks ago. I'd hit the button on the key fab to lock it and moments later the car would beep and lock by itself a few times. Ever since then I manually lock it.) Again, computer problem?

2. What are the computer codes for a 2000 Neon? Could I see what my problem is by reading the codes on the odometer? And do I access the codes by on/off of/off?

My car is just a plain old Neon. Automatic, etc.

Thanks and hopefully someone will be able to help before I get raped at the dealership.

Thanks,

DOD

 

It sounds like a misfire.

 

Codes should be able to be had fomr the ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON method.

May not be much if your Check Engine Light is off.

Since it was jerking back and forth as you described it, you might want to check your suspension for loose parts.

Other than that if it could easily be bad gas or wrong blend it wrong weather. Ie winter blend when HOT or vice versa. Or just crappy gas. If you have not changed plugs and wires in a long time then you may want to start there and add a good fuel injector cleaner such as Redline SL-1 or Chevron Techron concentrate.

 

Hmmm have you changed the timing belt? that might cause the jerking... or a misfire, but if there isn't a Check Engine Light then i doubt its a misfire, take a look at your motor mounts as well one maybe broken or loose and that may be causing the engine to jerk forward or backwards during acceleration. 1 question though, is the rattle more of a whining noise? if so then it could be an exhaust leak... good luck

 

Hi Dodgeofdeath, did the car seem to buck, just once and then run fine?
Did it feel like a miss?
Does the car idle fine in the driveway?

If these are what you are feeling, check your intake manifold by removing the intake hose (that fexible piece of rubber with the hose clamps) be careful of the wires on the throttle body. After you have removed the hose take a soft clean lint free rag and gently push it into the intake manifold, then remove it and check for oil on the rag. If there seems to be a considerable amount ( sometimes you can visibly see a small puddle of oil right in the intake manifold) of oil, this could be your problem. It is common in some not all 2000........... Neons.

It is caused by the location of the PVC valve. In Pre-2000 neons the valve was located on the top of the valve cover. If this is your problem the very best way to fix the problem is to install a pre 2000 neon valve cover. I've heard of catch cans, but this becomes a pain and will not work in cold climates because of moisture in the engine during warm-up and will turn the oil into a frozen coffee like substance.
Hope this helps---It happen to my 2001 neon.

Kayakman

 

When my MSD coil was getting water in or around it. It acted like that, it would jerk and rattle. But never thru a code. I put my stock coil on it's been running fine since

 

Don't forget that the Neons are known for engine mounts going south. A mount with the rubber destroyed will cause the engine to lurch and jerk. A set of motor mount inserts can fix that if that's the problem and they are not too badly damaged.

 

Well, I had no choice but to take it to the dealership and they said it was the transmission. That it was low on fluid (although I had my brakes checked there two weeks ago and I told them to top ALL fluids, if it's low then they apparently didn't do that or I have a leak, which I've never noticed) and they said the fluid smelled burnt. As of now they pulled out the trans. to look inside and see what problem is. The car is a 2000 and has 66,000+ miles on it. It seems to me that I shouldn't have trans problem after such low mileage.

If I have to put a lot of money into the trans maybe I should ditch it and buy a new car. Or should I fix it? And if I do fix it will I have trans problems in the future? How long can a fixed or rebuilt trans last? So far, cost of them taking it out and putting it back in is 500.00. That's not including fixing the problem, which I'll find out later today and then I'll decide if it's worth the money or buy new (if I can afford it).

I don't like the feeling I'm being ripped off here.

Thanks for all your help.