Ok, i just bought a 97 neon the other day. It has 77,000 miles on it and blows cold air conditioning which my previous car did not. Today i found out the the rear main seal needs to be replaced ($400), but that is all that seems to be the matter with it or so i thought. Starting this afternoon, about 10% of the time when i accelerate, there is a sound that i think might be a belt squealing, but i'm not sure which one it is if that is even what it is. It happens from 20 - 28 m.p.h. I was wondering if anyone has any information that might help me figure out what this problem is. Also yesterday i thought i heard a similar noise when i was backing out of a parking space and i turned my wheel all the way to one side, but i haven't heard that again. I checked my power steering fluid and it is completely full. i'm starting to think 1800, wasn't such a good deal after all. Please though, if anyone has info on what the squealing during acceleration (without the wheel turned) is then please let me know. Thank you in advance.

 

Two things: 1. Change ya belts: All of them. they may be Dry-rotted/Cracks.
2. If belts are good, probably not with 77k's, run a bar of soap threw the belts. BUT!!!!! Be careful with ya fingers


G/L

 

Before you get crazy and have the rear main seal replaced, unplug the cam sensor located on the end of the head ( between the head and the battery) and see if there is oil in the connector. You didn't specify if it is a SOHC or a DOHC so I'll asume its a SOHC however this can happen on either engine. If it is leaking, replace the sensor and install the revised wiring harness that comes with it. It has a different connector and SHOULD be purchased from the dealer. Aftermarket direct fit sensors have the same leaking problem as the OEM part. Other leaky spots are the oil pressure sending unit ( it has the same type of problem as the cam sensor ) and the head gaskets leak oil in the left rear corner. Both conditions can also be mis-diagnosed as a rear main leak. As for the squeal, replace/retension the belts as needed. Hope this helps.
Mike

 

agree