Dodge/Plymouth Neon
...of the new Neon, this topic picked up a bit.
Welcome to the continuation of the Dodge/Plymouth
Neon topic. Those of you joining us from that
topic are welcome to continue your discussion. If
you're new to this topic, you may want to follow
the above link for additional archived posts.
Thanks,
L8_Apex
Sedans Host
Welcome to the continuation of the Dodge/Plymouth
Neon topic. Those of you joining us from that
topic are welcome to continue your discussion. If
you're new to this topic, you may want to follow
the above link for additional archived posts.
Thanks,
L8_Apex
Sedans Host
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Comments
The MPG has also been kind of an issue with our 2000 Neon (Auto) as well. My wife drives the car and mainly it is for a bunch of short distances (example: to and from work, etc.). I wouldn't mind seeing better MPG as well.
He said once the oil is changed (Dodge uses some sort of special break-in (?) oil at the manufacturer, it should do a little better. He also said the car should do do better and better the more it is broken in (how long does that take?) ....
It's good to hear from people like yourselves about your experiences with MPG. We have an automatic as well, and like I mentioned before, are hoping we do a little better in the MPG area (we have about 1600 miles on it).
I am glad MPG is getting some quality attention on this topic list, and am looking forward to hearing more ....
The good: great kick to drive, great space, comfortable.
The bad: not as refined as the 98s on. Watch the head gasket!
I'd recommend checking the VIN with CarFax, and checking the price against Edmund's guide.
Paul
http://www.neons.org/ -> plenty of info on all the Neon mods, check out the boards
http://www.neoncars.com/ -> carries the Iceman for $199.00
http://www.howellautomotive.com/ -> also carries the Iceman and many other mods
The Iceman is good for anywhere from 5 to 10 HP gains, although the biggest gains are for the SOHC engine.
Some type of air intake upgrade is often the first mod most people do to thier Neons, it's a cheap and easy upgrade with no negative effects.
The next upgrade is the underdrive pulley, this is also good for 5 to 10 HP increase and runs $180.00 for the AF/X model. Although harder to install and requireing a special tool to install, this upgrade is an easy HP booster like the Iceman. Also, it lowers the power draw from car accessories, mainly the A/C.
Anywho...check out the sites, tons of cool stuff for Neons that aren't too bad on the pocketbook.
The dealer seems to think it is the hub caps ... they are ordering new ones.
He told me if it still made the noise after they tightened them, they would order new ones.
That's where I stand ... what makes you think it is the pads (I'm interested)?
it is greatly appreciated...thanks
out and touch the metal of the door it will shock
the heck out of you. I think it is a short in the
speaker wire or something because my speaker in my
passenger door seems to have a lot of static. I am not sure what I am going to do about this problem.
thanks
Robson
I have heard that the Neon will once again feature the 150hp DOHC engine as an option beginning this summer. Anyone else know anything about this? A more powerful neon could most certainly be my next car!
"The new SOHC 2.0-liter will produce increased speed by delivering higher torque at lower RPM than the DOHC engine it replaces. The R/T uses a new intake manifold that has a second set of intake runners and an electrically operated set of butterfly valves. The manifold keeps the low end torque up, while still offering high rpm operation. A new tubular exhaust manifold will also boost performance."
That boost in the low end as well as the high end should make for an impressive Neon.
Coronet.
You will love it,the car runs like hell!!
I saw teh Neon R/T at the NYC auto show this past Saturday. Way cool.
Ed
I also have no problem with my dealer here (Grizzly motors in Missoula, MT or with the service department where I bought my neon Coast Auto in Brookings, OR) maybe it's because in these small towns dealers sell mutiple brands like here it is Chrysler/Dodge, Suzuki, and Lincon/Mercury. The Honda Dealer is also to Isuzu, Caddy, and Pontiac dealer. Ford also has Toyota. So it would so the service for Honda would not be any better then Pontiac cause it's the same Bubba doing the work.
DISLIKES:
1. I don't like how, when you are about 10 yards away from the side of the car, you can see the naked metal stripping underneath the car - it looks unfinished.
2. I don't like how the passanger side windshield wiper doesn't seem to go all the way down. It's distracting.
3. The trunk interior seems REALLY cheap.
4. I don't like how you have to put a lot of force into pushing the turn signal up or down.
LIKES:
1. The color of the lights glowing inside the car at night - very cool... turquoise and blood red.
2. Windshield wipers are very fast.
3. very comfortable armrests for 5-speed shifting.
4. even though the 4-disc cd changer is down too far, it's cool that all your actions occur right on the stereo interface.
5. the overall looks of the car is unique.
ANYONE ELSE HAVE SIMILAR LIKES/DISLIKES?
I owned a 95 Doge Neon and drove it 95,000 miles. The only time it went back to the dealer was to replace the exhaust donut. The car ran so good that I traded up for the 2000 Neon. I have put 9,500 trouble free miles on my new Neon. I got a base Neon with a 5 speed and AC. My dealer added cruise control for 250 dollars.
Dislikes:
- The lack of 15 alum wheels option for base model
- The stock Goodyear tires suck
- My base model lacks remote trunk release
- Rear end styling (the brake lights dont look right!)
- No 4 speed automatic transmission
Likes:
- The car handles extremely well.
- The excelleration with the 5 speed is excellent
- The interior dash layout has 2 cup holders, a shelf for my sunglasses, and lots of storage
- Lots of room. The car seems as big inside as the much higher priced Ford contour.
- The base am/fm cassette sounds pretty good.
- The car looks great from the front and side.
- The 1% financing is awesome. I have already paid down a substantial amount of the principle in 8 months.
So far so good.
My 98 R/T has 33,000 miles on it and i just want to be sure i dont need a new head. Is there a way i can tell by driving or listening that i need a new head gasket? Or do i just have to take it in and let someone look at it???
"The Neon has a reputation for headgasket failure, and it has affected many Neon owners. Since the blocks are identical, both the SOHC and the DOHC are susceptible. Chrysler revised the original gasket twice to address this issue, and finally released an all-new part. The new MLS (multi-layered steel) gasket supersedes the old part under the same p/n. The new gasket went into production SOHCs in September of 1998 (part of the '99 m/y), with the DOHC following shortly after that, probably before November of '98. TSB 09-05-98, which describes the revised part, was issued on November 06, 1998. This means that the new piece was available at parts counters around that time. (Thanks to Greg Smith for this additional information.)
Nearly all failures occur in the driver's side rear of the engine block, where an oil passage crosses between head and block within 1/4" of the outside edge. The most common symptom is an oil leak at the block joint in the vicinity of the brake fluid reservoir. Other, less common symptoms of headgasket failure include: water in the oil (indicated by foam on the dipstick or drain pan), oil in the coolant overflow reservoir, and burning of coolant (continual steam or light grey soot in exhaust pipe). However, most Neon headgasket failures do not cause mixing of oil and coolant.
Two items should be kept in mind on this subject. First, with more than a million Neons on the road, even a large number of failures is a small percentage of the unaffected cars. Second, this problem is common among most cars with aluminum heads, not just Neons. This kind of head design saves weight, and is typical on modern cars. However, aluminum heads are sensitive to overheating and may crack or warp, which leads to gasket failure.
Headgasket failure is enough of a problem, however, that Chrysler has made special provisions for headgasket repairs beyond the normal warranty period. While dealers probably won't volunteer to fix a car that has exceeded its warranty, many Neon owners have found that a call to the Customer One phone number may help. Depending on the age of the car, Chrysler may pay a portion of the replacement cost; in many instances, repairs have been made just as if warranty coverage existed. Also, owners who have paid out-of-pocket to have the headgasket replaced may be reimbursed under this extension. In many cases, full coverage of headgasket failure has been extended to five years or 100,000 miles."
Here's my story. Got a 95 sport sedan, last yr the a/c blew out. 13 months later (of course, 12 mos warranty on parts!) it went again! Had it replaced again. Since the replacement, the engine is running rough when just 'cruising', say on the freeway. It accelerates fine. The feeling is like a drive belt letting go and grabbing, or like an alignment problem (which I already know it's not). At the shop, they scope it, can't find anything, they drive it, same thing - they just don't know my car like I do!
Quite a while ago, somebody posted a similar problem, somebody else posted a possible solution, and for the life of me I can't find those two posts! If those folks are around, or if anybody has any ideas please help! Thx!
BTW:
1) The shocks are real. Never had that problem in any other car. Maybe the power locks shorting? My locks don't 'snap' like they used to and the front psgr side is out of order altogether!
2) No head gasket problem (yet!), and 160K km.
3) Love the car, if I can get this shaking thing fixed I'll keep it for another 160K!