<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3> I own a 98' Dodge Neon RT w/157k miles on it. Lately gas mileage has been terrible and I haven't had good acceleration. Lots of sputtering and sometimes backfiring below 3500 rpms. I put in new plugs and that only seemed to fix the problem for about a day or so. Now the "check engine soon" light is on and if I hit the gas it flashes. I really need some advice because I'm taking it to the shop this friday and I don't have a lot of money and I really don't want to get ripped off by the mechanic. The car has always ran very well and other than replacing bearings in the 4 th piston connecting rod I have no complaints. One other thing is that it burns about 1/2 to 3/4 quart of oil every other time I have to fill the gas tank. The car has done this for over two years and I never see smoke and I've brought this up with mechanics in the past and they have never found leaks. Their advice has always been "just don't let it run out and you will be fine" recently thoughit sounds like one of the valves ticks pretty loudly for the first couple of minutes that the car is running if it has been off for awhile. No other warning lights have ever come on. </FONT></P>

 

If you had a distibutor, I would tell you to check you timing. Instead, I would check all of your vacumn lines, especially those going to the MAP sensor.</P>


-Ryan</P>

 

The ticking you are probably hearing is an emissions thing located by your A/C lines on the right side(drivers right:if facing the car from the front it will be on your left) in the engine compartment near the timing belt cover. It is a small black circular object but flat on top with a few vacuum lines going into the bottom of it. Mine makes a racket on a cold start as well. The PCM, a.k.a.computer, has a built in self check set-up. Turn the key to the on position(not start) then back to the off position. Repeat this 3 times leaving it in the on position on the 3rd time. You will now watch your check engine light. After it goes out it will now flash a series of two digit numbers. Example:flash,flash,pause,flash,flash,flash.=23. It may give multiple codes depending on what all is wrong. There will also be a pause in between each set of two digit code numbers. When it flashes the code 55 that means the system check is complete. After you get the two digit code numbers call a Dodge dealership and ask for the service department and tell them you have a 98 Dodge Neon R/T with the 2.0L DOHC motor and it is giving you the codes (whatever they may be) and ask them what they are. They will look up the codes and tell you what they are. These codes tell you that there is a problem in that circuit. Example: if they tell you it's an oxygen sensor it doesn't necessarily mean it is the oxygen sensor itself. It means that that circuit has fallen out of the acceptable parameters for that circuit(it means it could be the wiring to or from the sensor and not necessarily the sensor itself). Most likely though it is the component/sensor and not the wiring to and/or from. This works with most all Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth's made in the past 20 years(not Mitsubishi powered Chrysler products). I hope this info will be of help to you.<img border="0" src=smileys/smiley4.gif border="0">

 

That will work ono Mitsubishi powered Chrysler products as well. Used to own a dynasty 3.0. Anyway, you can remove that charcoal canister if you dont have emissions in your area. Some people say they have passed even w/o it.</P>

 

The valves on your neon will not tick they are self adjusting and you never need to adjust them. If you are hesitating it is probably your O2 sensor if you haven't replaced them yet I would replace both of the but you have to get the after cat sensor from the dealer you will not find it at a parts store They give you the wrong one and the wire is about 2 feet shorter than what you need. As for the top one autozone has them for about $95 can't help you on why it backfires as for the flashing check engine light that is very bad f it flashes you may have damaged the cat and will probably need to replace it it's in the owners manual. My only other advise is get a repair manual it will help you out a lot.

 

try using a fuel injector and carburetor cleaner or any other liquid solutions that restore the horsepower and keep your engine clean[sm=smiley4.gif]

 

may wanna check the fuel filter under the pass. side of your ride ..... had a focus (sad but true) and it was doing the same thing .... back firing and hesitating ....but i kept doing what KhanArtist said and just kept putting injector cleaner..... then one day the thing wouldnt start .... kinda like i ran outta gas ... come to find out the fuel pump ended up going out from trying to push thru the fuel ..... wont hurt to change out ... only 20-30 bucks at the very most