My 2002 Dodge Neon is having idle issues when the tranny is in drive and I have to stop. The RPMs drop to about 500 and about once a week it almost dies. It only does this when it warmed up up and only when stopped. If I shift into neutral the RPMs return to about 800 and everything is fine. Fuel is good, CAI is good, Trannys good, everything checks out, but I cannot figure this one out. Any ideas?

 

I have a 2000 that does the same thing, but I never tried putting it into neutral. When in drive, it will drop into 500's range and kind of shiver till I go again.

Mat

 

What your experiencing is normal.

Stock neon ECU's are designed to maximize fuel efficency. One of the ways it does this is keeping idle RPMS low. If you don't like it (like myself) you can hold the brake and tap the gas slightly to raise the rpms up to 1k or 900. Then it should idle normally.

Its really retarded but its the truth.

 

Did this start after you installed you CAI? I am thinking there is something going haywire with that thing in there. It could be an intake or TBsensor issue, but I do not have an engine light. Bumping the throttle works only for as long as it take the RPMs to drop back down.[:@]

I do need to repace that top engine mount. That will probably buffer the shudder some too.

 

I have a bone stock engine, no CAI. Im pretty sure my engine mounts are shot, which is the next thing to be replaced.

Mat