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1997 Dodge Neon Head Gasket
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Some of the things I learned about it in my 5 years of ownership:
--only use chrysler/mopar parts. I had the accessory belt break 5 times in one month because I used another brand.
--keep an eye on all systems. I have replaced everything at sometime or another over the past five years, including the the rebuilt parts of the engine.
--I put 126,000 miles on this car. Most of the time it was a good car (except the aforementioned repair times). Just takes a little extra care.
1995 Neon, leaking at 50,000. Finally got it in around 65,000. Call Chrysler and explain head gasket failures are common and local mechanics told you to call chrysler for warranty replacement. Customer service person will start a file and make 'no claim' as to what Chrysler will do for you. He/she will inform you to take it to local dealer for inspection. SAVE YOUR FILE NUMBER! Now, service person checks it and says 'yep shes a leakin' and says Chrysler will pay for gasket you pay labor 400-600$. You say that is unacceptable and tell THEM to contact Chysler with your file number and get it taken care of under warranty. They will call their regional service manager. You should receive a return call stating that Chrysler stands behind its product and will cover it. They may recommend a timing belt change and will only bill you for the part and can install it at gasket change time. Take advantage of this! ~$92.00 So for $92.00 you will be taken care of. The key is to remain calm, stay in control of each situation and always direct the conversation in the way you want it to end up. Do not accept less. You will walk away a happy Neon customer.
Good luck!
every 3000 miles religiously and think this spells
poor quality. We are (unfortunately) going back to Japanese.
my warranty has expired, but i was wondering if chrysler will fix this problem for me, since it seems to be a recurring one with neons.
other than the gasket the car has been great, but i don't have the $600+ to fix it.
please let me know what options i have, other than selling the car.
thanks
The head gaskets are well-known defects in DaimlerChrysler's 4-cylinder (2.0 and 2.4L) engines. See if you can get the dealer to go after DC to pick up at least part of the repair cost.
I have also looked for a good Dodge web site to ask questions and technical advice, opinions, etc. The best site I have found is www.moparchat.com This site is clearly the best in quality, with over 60,000 posts! Good luck either way Trevor!
There should be some kind of class-action suit regarding this problem. I wuz robbed!!
Her car started leaking oil from the rear oil seal. I believe this was between the transmission and the engine. After her's was fixed it started to have problems idling and idles rough period. The Dealership didn't find anything wrong.
Her dome light comes on at random times as well. This all started at about 47K miles.
Now mine is showing the same signs.
Anyone have any similar experiences?
Chris
Merphie@mmcable.com
Mine has 33K miles, 5 spd. Actually a fun little car. But after reading all these posts, I'm paranoid. I actually think I see traces of oil on the white paint near the front tires. If a head gasket is getting ready, what can I expect? Any sure tell signs? Should I pull the plugs every once in a while and look for oil there? I run the car hard in DC traffic, so I hope if there will be problems, it will happen in the next 2500 miles while it still has the factory warranty.
Please tell me Chrysler made some good neons!
Thanks.
1) Oil in the coolant
2) Strong antifreeze smell
3) Truck ran hotter than normal
Yes, there are some good Neons out there. Not enough, but by his reckoning - 10% of them.
Has anyone had experience with the new gaskets? Do they blow as well?
a problem with instrument panel(suddlenly dropping to zero. Also, the selector dials for the A/C weren't working, and A/C itself wasen't working either. After i think 4 times in and out o' the shop, these problems were taken care of. i paid the extra for the warranty. Around the same time, i noticed oil in my driveway. What'da think it was? Back to the shop i go. They were kind enough to give me a rental for a Month, and fix it finally for Free. Although they were under no obligation for the labor. Since then i've had no problems with my Neon. Thanks to Reno Mazda-Kia.
Oh, my Neon now has 113K miles and looks good!
Any input please direct to: johnnev@juno.com
Found oil leaking at 40Kmi. I have not had this problem with two other new cars that I had in the past. Toyota Tercel, and Ford mustang. I bought a new car so I could concentrate on business not worrying if my car would make from one destination to another.
****I'm on this site now looking for either a nice little sentra or a civic. I'm going to end up taking a loss on this car with the trade in, but I just need to get rid of it.
It only had 20000 miles on it when the head gasket went bad for the first time. I took it to the local Dodge dealer who supposedly fixed it.
At 48000 miles the head gasket went bad again and it had no warranty coverage left. Fortunately the dealership payed for the cost. I don't understand why I was not notified of the part they put on my car being defective before it went out again. Now my transmission is acting up and my power steering. I tried to trade it off but the place where I got it at won't take it back!!! They said it is not worth what I owe on it. Now I feel like I am stuck with a piece of junk that no dealer wants because of all the problems with it.
$250, freon leak, radio LED went out, and the dome light didn't work upon delivery. Also had an exhaust manifold leak.
Can I expect further head gasket leaks after this repair, or other major problems? I'm leaning toward getting rid of this car this spring while I'm ahead!
Any input would be most appreciated. Thanks.
Problem: You know it, you love it: a leaking head gasket (HG)
The Adventure: Chapter 1
After reading up on all the particulars from successful(check out "stevarino"'s post #54 here on this board)/unsuccessful folks here and elsewhere at such great sites as lemonaidcars.com, etc., I have decided to take the leap and try and prod (gently at first, with a harpoon if necessary) DaimlerChrysler (DC) into covering the repair and, with any luck, extending the warranty out to 7yrs/100kmi (this is goal #2 and will not supersede goal #1).
In the hopes that my experience might be of service to someone else with this common problem, here it is as it happens...
First, I had an independent mechanic check it out and confirm the HG was leaking (this was free). For oodles of reasons not important here, it was decided that I should try the dealership.
Before calling the dealership I called DC's 800 number (1-800-922-1997 for those who need it) and created a customer service ticket (CST) via an explanation of the HG problem. As expected, the representative on the other end gave no indication that DC would actually cover the repair cost or extend the warranty or give me any good faith guarantee but would send (email, apparently) the information I gave him directly to my dealer of choice (a local 5-star that we've had the car in to before for other warranty work and which did a good and fast job - FWIW: we had the whole manual tranny replaced @ 35,000mi, gratis and in a half a day no less). So, I jot down the DC ticket number and ask about the particulars of the process. DC says that the dealer should diagnose the problem and then potentially make a decision on the spot or refer it up the line to the regional potentate (ahem).
Armed with my CST# and a little info (download the TSB at the following website: http://neons.org/neonstsb/TSB/09/090598.htm - it really makes for interesting reading for insomniacs...) I give the dealership a call. I start off with the obligatory "you guys were so great when we had the car in before..." schpiel and presented the problem. Because I really want to keep everything above the board, I also mention the fact that I had spoken with DC. She doesn't let on that the HG leak is a major problem but does want the CST# and pleasantly schedules us in for the first thing Tuesday morning (01/02/01) for the diagnosis.
I'll post the results of the dealership inspection/conversation/resolution? Tuesday afternoon....
Before the new year I posted (#82) about my currently unfolding experience with the, "Aw @#!%&!, my head gasket is leaking, I'm beyond the warranty period, and now I have to go fight DaimlerChrysler to get the darned thing fixed..." saga that all '95-'98 Neon owners will probably go through at some point. Here is the continuation of my experience...
We pick up our story at the dealership early this morning (7AM) for Neon's diagnosis appointment. Drop it off, they'll call me at work. About 3 hours later I get a call from the service manager and he says sure 'nuff, it's the head gasket (what a surprise, eh?) and that they called DC and referenced my CST# (having this *already* set up with DC is key, IMO, to getting a quick resolution). The service manager (Tony - really nice guy, btw) says that DC wants me to pay the first $100 and that DC will then pick up the rest of the tab. At this point, the thought did cross my mind that I should press for totally free, but then I caved, "That'll be just fine," I says. I also ask if they will be installing the "new" MLS gasket instead of the old one and I was assured they will be doing just that. I should state that the dealership that I took this to is a 5star (though the last award was in '94 - guess they get to call themselves that forever) service dept. that has seen this car once before for warranty work. I did not, however, buy the car from this dealership so their handling of the situation, when a future new car sale isn't directly at stake, is commendable, IMO.
So, what originally looked like a $600+ repair is now going to cost $100. Did I get it completely free plus an extension on my warranty? In a word, no. Did I have to fight and rail against the machine getting nasty with everyone in the service department and at DC? Absolutely not - everyone has been cordial and pleasant (but I might add no one, esp. the DC rep on the phone, was very forthcoming with information like 'oh yeah - that's a common problem' - never heard that once). Am I happy that DC is going to pony up the lion's share of the cost? You betcha.
Now we'll see if the gasket will leak again any time soon. If so, there will be an epilogue forthcoming. 'Til then, good luck on your head gasket repair!
As I recall, it took DaimlerChrysler a while to fix the problem - if your car was repaired with the original gasket, it may simply have failed again (hopefully it will be just that).
My 1996 Breeze just had a $1357 repair bill at the Chrysler dealer yesterday. The head gasket replacement accounted for $730 of that bill. Our 1997 Neon was just in at 28,000 for it's head gasket replacement.
Not only are we afraid this will be an on-going problem with both of these vehicles, the Chrysler regional representative is refusing to cover any cost of the Breeze repair.
He stated that only 2.0 liter repairs are being covered. There is a 2.4 liter in our car. Looking over all the complaints posted on these sites, I can't believe we're the only ones to have a problem with the 2.4.
We want to be persistent in our claim with Chrysler. Any suggestions on our next step? Should we "tough it out" hoping for no future head gasket problems or go keeper into debt buying two different on-Chrysler products?
Help!!!
We looked at the site and found the TSB service bulletin regarding the replacement of headgaskets on both 2.0 L and 2.4 L engines.
Hopefully we can settle with Chrysler over the phone...but according to past consumers, threats of small claims court is the only way to receive any compensation from Chrysler.
We have also e-mailed to the local dealer we purchased both our Plymouths from. Maybe the thought of alot of bad publicity will force some type of action on their part.
We can only hope!!
Does anyone know the number i call at chrysler?please reply...all help will be appreciated
Thanks bryan
p.s my car has 48000 miles on it
My 5-speed SOHC 1995 Neon sports sedan recently had it's second headgasket (HG) replacement at 98,000 miles almost 2 years to the day and 30,000 following the first HG replacement. DaimlerChrysler (DC) paid for the labor the first time around while I paid for parts. I was socked for a $435 labor cost for the second replacement. The Dealer covered the cost of the part which amounted to $220.
My question is whether the first HG replacement in December of 1998 used the new multi-layer steel (MLS) HG. The part #s are:
09353010 GASKET, CYLINDER Head-Replace (B)
5014132AA GSKT PKG-UPPER
48642071B SEAL PKG-EXHAUST RIG
There is a tremendous difference in DC customer service between December 1998 and December 2000. In 1998, customer service was prompt, courteous, and they kept me on the phone until the situation was resolved. Flash forward to the new DC which requires you to navigate a voice mail menu which asks you 4-5 times about whether you really want to talk to a customer service representative (i.e., a real person). Add a 5-minute wait before your call is answered. I was told during my first call that if I wasn't satisfied with the Dealer defraying the cost of the HG that my only recourse was to speak with the District manager, who may or may not talk to me. I felt like a captive in Stalag 13. In addition, the customer service rep said that this offer was very generous on the part of DC, and I should be grateful. Three weeks later I called the dealership that serviced my car, and was told the the district manager has not checked in yet, but that I was on the top of the list. I called DC again, and after navigating the voice mail harassment system was told that the only person I could register my complaint with was the district manager. I told the customer service (clearly a misnomer) representative at DC that this individual is still missing after three weeks, and wasn't there anyone else I could contact. Sergant Schultz... I mean the customer service rep said the only person who could address this matter was the district manager (how do you spell "run-around"). The helpful customer service rep then told me that DC defraying the cost of the part was a goodwill gesture, and that "the customer has to take responsibility at some time". After reading this message board you have to wonder when DC will develop a consistent policy in standing behind their product. The HG issue is a design problem. Neither the dealership nor DC addressed my concern about whether the HG will need to be replaced in 10,000 or so more miles. I didn't know about the redesigned MLS headgaskets either. Does the MLS HG really remedy this problem?
Please let me know whether the first HG replacement was the older type which was known to be defective, and had been replaced.
After reading the helpful information on this page I called my local dealership yesterday to tell them that I thought I had a headgasket problem. I was told by the Service Manager that the District Manager had set a limit of 5 years or 50,000 miles on headgasket replacement. I then called the Customer Service number (which by the way is 1-800-992-1997 NOT 922-1997) and talked to a really nice guy who called my local dealership and set up an appointment to check out my Neon. I got a call a few minutes ago and was told that the District Manager had turned down DC paying for any part of my gasket replacement due to the high mileage.
I called Customer Service again and was told that my only recourse was to have my file sent to the District Manager's Office. I asked her what good it was going to do to send my file to the same person who had already turned down my case. She said that it was the only thing that could be done. We'll anyone with a brain knows what's going to happen when my file gets there - it's going to be turned down again without anyone ever looking over the information.
My advice to anyone reading this is - 1) don't commute in your Neon and 2) take your Neon to your dealership TODAY - even if you don't seem to have a problem - have them check the gasket every month until your warrenty runs out. And, if the extended warrenty is under $605 (what I'm about to pay for a replacement gasket job) buy the extended warrenty because your gasket will fail sooner or later and it's better to be under warrenty!!!