Last week I had a check engine light come on. I had auto zone do a scan so see what code was showing and it was code P1281. I was wondering if anyone else has ever had this code. Some people are saying the thermostat may be bad or sticking. Plus it is tapping like it is low on oil, however I checked the oil it reads where it need to be. Let me know what you think it could be. Thanks Matt

 

you have the SRT4 or a regular neon? might try the 2gn section. if you have a base model or sxt, i can move your thread to a more helpful area.

also, there are stickies in both the 2gn and srt4 section with a list of codes

 

It is a SRT4, not a regular neon

 

I'm not sure, its not even in the code section above these posts, it could be a manufacture code, each manf. is allowed to have a certain number of codes that only their special readers and tell you want they are. When you took it to auto zone did it only show the number and not what it was?

 

if your check light is on, you can always get the car to show the code. help me out here, but if you turn the car's ignition off and on 3 times, leaving it on on the third, it will display the code?

 

yea just cycle the key three time and leave it in the on position and it will show you the codes that have been set.