Hey guys my name is Paul, I'm 16 and got my first car last thursday. A 96' Neon Highline Sohc ATX 4dr, wow what a long model name. My cousin gave it to me, has 79,000 miles and was well maintained upuntill my cousin had it for the last year, I don't think he even did an oil change. But anywhoo... I'm already worrying about some noises and leaks.

First worry:

My driveway is sloped and when backing out I stopped for maybe 10 seconds at the steepest part and when I finished moving back there was a good size pool of oil and drops following me into the street, shortly stopping in about 15ft. It has since to do it again. I've tried making it leak, just letting it run at the same spot, sitting there for 10-20 seconds in reverse. When I was doing the front brakes last night I looked around underneath and it appears there might be some fresh oil splashed onto the various nubs on the rear of the block it looks like it starts near the top of the block. Should I worry a lot about this?

Second worry:

The auto trannsmission has a noticible whine when starting from a stop. Not loud though. It sounds just like a bad ground in your stereo when you step on the accelerator and you hear that whine through your speakers.

Third worry:

Slight knocking noise at idle, very very slight knocking noise. Not really sure what it is but I seam to hear this alot in dodge 4 bangers.


So someone PLEASE PLEASE put my worries to rest, give me good answers that a non expert would understand and yea just help a beginner out.

THANKS!!! Paul

 

I think your worries are well founded.

 

First worry:
Head Gasket. Yes, be worried about it. Get it replaced. However there are two things you need to do before getting it replaced. Look between intake runners #1 and #2 (Passenger side), you may also need a flashlight, if you see a little tab sticking out from between the head and block with rivets in it you've already got the MLS HG and the oil is probably coming from somewhere else or wasn't done properly. The second thing you can do is remove the intake cowl, the part that runs over the top of the engine towards the firewall and look on the driver's side upper corner of the block and see if there is oil seeping out from betweent he head and block. If so, head gasket. But from what you were saying, it sounds like a head gasket.

But it could be a rear seal or something else, but I'd start at the HG.

Also, next time you notice the oil in the driveway get out of the car and put your fingers in the spot. If the oil is red it's transmission fluid. Which brings me to worry #2.

Second Worry:
Service the transmission. That whine you are hearing is the transmission from lack of fluid. The oil you are probably finding, but may not be it could be the transmission fluid leaking. In either case, service the transmission. Drop the pan, change the filter, change the fluid, adjust both the low/reverse bands and the regular drive bands, and adjust the kickdown cable. If you wait a day or so I will have a detailed How-To on how to do this.

Worry Three:
The knocking noise you probably hear is the rockers. If it's really loud I'd suggest on changing the oil. Since the sound usually results in lack of oil pressure on the valvetrain. Otherwise, a slight "knock" or "tick" is normal in the Neon's valvetrain.

Which also brings me to some other points.

If your cousin gave you the vehicle and never took care of it I'd suggest on the following: tune-up; oil change, transmission service, new plugs, wires, possibly a new TPS, and IAC, bench clean the throttle body, rotate the tires, check the brakes, new air filter and possibly fuel filter (some year neons have an internal fuel filter and no way to change it).

Oh, a word on transmission fluid. If you are going to do it yourself use ONLY Mopar fluid. I generally use Mopar ATF +4 it's synthetic and lasts a bit longer, it does however cost more. If you are going to take it to a garage to do supply them with the transmission fluid they are going to use. DO NOT let them use their "off-the-shelf" brand. Chances are it is not the correct type.

Hopefully, this helps you out. Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

Wow, thanks a bunch for the info. The two other boards I posted on didn't give me what I was looking for.

So from the sounds of it two of my worries can easily be solved but I'm praying to god that the headgasket isn't going. If it is the HG shouldn't there be a gurgling sound when I turn the car off (there isn't). My car is at the garage this morning getting inspected so I can't check for the MLS HG or take the intake cowl off but I will this afternoon and tell ya whats up.

 

Headgaskets were a common problem with the 1st gen Neons. I had a 1997 plymouth and the thing went soon after i got it in '99. Yours lasted a helluva lot longer than my did.

 

No, there would be no gurggling sound when you shut the car off.

 

Ok I checked for the MLS HG and there is a tab there, and it looks like there are little rivits or dimples in it.. 2 of them? My flashlight was pretty dim. But it is about 1 inch long and 1/2in' out with a knub of metal below it by intake runners #1-2 so that was my major worry. Now I can buy my wheels

 

Ok, your HG has been done. But you still need to find where the oil is coming from if it is in fact oil.

Did you get the transmission serviced?

 

By "rear of the block" do you mean 1) over the transmission or 2) the exhaust side. The common low cost problem for 1 is the cam position sensor seal. New one at the dealer is only a few bucks an MUCH improved over the original. For location 2, it is the oil pressure sender. Take it out and seal the threads with teflon tape.

Next I'd check the valve cover - these commonly leak, but usually not as quickly as you describe. It gets much worse from there. Our '96 was leaking from all these locations, but think I'm down to a problem with the rear main seal - still trying to decide between fix or sell.

While servicing your transmission, be sure to check the hoses to the transmisson cooler that's integrated with the radiator. If original, they are likely to be developing cracks at the bends about this point.

Good luck!

 

Well this car had the 60,000 mile service done so it seems to be up to date except for an oil change which I'll do on sunday. But It has yet to leak again so I am begining to not think about it. And if it does then I'll look into it more. The trans fluid is a clean light red color, doesn't seem dirty but I cannot read the trans dip stick well. It goes like this (you all prolly know) ADD---WARM---XXHOTXX--- with the --- representing the little holes there is fluid in each one of them. But I checked this while it was on jackstands today so it might not be accurate. But the whine isn't too loud, it was slightly noticible with the windows up tonight but seems go go away after 5mph. Do you guys think my trans. is on its way out at JUST 80k miles? It seems way to soon, it shifts very smooth downshifts very snappy.

Soooo... if it turns out I just have to add a little oil now and then its fine but if it starts getting really bad then my dad said he'll foot the bill to have it fixed. So no worries for me! I'm just gonna go enjoy my Neon.

So guys, I gotta show you what I'm getting

20% tint
http://www.bestwheel.com/wheelm.asp?id=150 Type-C in black 15"
Thermal exhaust http://www.modernperformance.com/dcx/thermal.shtml
Some type of intake, leaning to AEM because I don't want to route the battery to the trunk and it won't get water logged with the puddles in Rochester
Mopar Hi-rates w/ Koni Yellows
And NEW HEADLIGHTS, i can't see crap with the fogged stockies http://www.modernperformance.com/dcx..._1995-99.shtml
Euro clear turn signals to match the headlights

Some other little doo-dads too but only if they help with the dark look I'm going for (no white crap shiny chrome for me, I don't want my car standing out) A nice subtle look.