Hey all,

I have a 2005 Neon with about 64K miles on the clock. SXT model with auto trans. Over the last couple of weeks it's started to sometimes crank for an extended period before starting. Intermittant problem only, some times it starts right up. An OBDII scan shows no codes returned.

Anyone care to hazard a guess as to the diagnoses? I'm thinking in terms of maybe the coil myself, but would love to hear any thoughts.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Chris.

 

Battery going bad would be my first guess if the terminals and posts are clean and tight.

 

Ok, since I started this thread here's what's been done. Car has had a new battery installed, new coil, new fuel pump, new fuel pump relay. After the new battery and fuel pump relay, which were the last things to be installed, they car worked fine, starting every time for about a month. It's now exhibiting the exact same problem as it has all along. Often, when it won't start, you can wiggle the relays in the fuse/relay block and it starts right up. But sometimes, that doesn't seem to have an effect. The inside of the fuse box is clean with no visible corrosion. At one point, it woudln't start until I whacked the fuel pump with the butt of a screw driver, hence the fuel pump replacement. Never a code returned, except for a low voltage one which was why the battery was replaced and one for the MAP. I've cleaned the throttle body, blown out the air filter, cleaned all the relay connections and coated them with dielectric grease. The MAP has been replaced. Still no fix.

During the no start condition, it cranks just fine and all lights on the dash appear normal.

The cam position sensor was replace a couple of years ago, wonder if it could be intermittent and causing this now?

I'd love to hear any thoughts about what the next step might be.

Chris-