RXX Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 2002 Dodge Neon, 235,000 miles. Beater car/ DD yesterday I was driving to work when my radar detector alerted me to a high voltage spike, several times in a few miles. Then my gauge cluster started acting up, momentarily flashing and dials going crazy. Neither HV spike or gauges were doing this in synchrony, and there did not seem to be any connection other than this had never happened before. A little research makes me suspect the ECM or PCM or whatever it is called. What direction should I take? I want to keep the car around, and don't care to spend money on it, just not hundreds and hundreds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IcePrick Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 If you check, I bet you'll find the tool strap is fubar also. Did it throw any codes? How old is the battery in that thing? Clean connections? If all that's okay, the backyard mechanic in me wants to guess voltage regulator. Me, I'm lazy. I'd take it to Pep Boys or even AutoZone for a charging system diagnosis. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superhawk996 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 First thoughts; bad battery connections, failing voltage regulator (built into alternator). Check your connections and if good take to autozone or wherever. If it doesn't reveal the issue it may have to be diagnosed on something better than what they use. Some Mopar vehicles use a battery temperature sensor under the battery, not sure if it could do this but maybe. Don't think there's any regulating circuitry in the ECM. ECM= engine control module. PCM= powertrain control module. Handles the engine and trans. TCM= transmission control module. ECU= engine control unit, same as ECM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superhawk996 Posted March 26, 2016 Share Posted March 26, 2016 Is it fixed, parked, up in smoke??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RXX Posted March 28, 2016 Author Share Posted March 28, 2016 (edited) I unplugged the RD. Learned to live with it for awhile. it is in line for vehicle maintenance. Behind the tractor. And the truck. And the bird. And warranty work on the MINI. Edited March 28, 2016 by RXX I should have gotten an Audi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redxxrdr Posted April 12, 2016 Share Posted April 12, 2016 Philip, the neon cluster connects with two plugs in the rear. google neon cluster repair. every gauge on one Chris was driving would go nuts. Even the speedo. All I had to do was pull the cluster and resolder the connectors for the plugs on the cluster mother board. It fixed all the intermitant problems. Of course that didn't prevent the failed water pump, timing belt. Head gasket, transmission bands and oil pan that happened with a young man driving a old car on dirt roads like a pickup truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RXX Posted April 13, 2016 Author Share Posted April 13, 2016 I was driving it in town last week and it just fucking died on me in the middle of the road. Pulled into a parking lot. All the electrics were fine, would turn over like a champ, just not fire. I called a wrecker, had it towed to a garage, and will find out today what the problem is. Then get it fixed, then title it over to my daughter for her husband to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superhawk996 Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Hopefully not a broken timing belt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RXX Posted April 21, 2016 Author Share Posted April 21, 2016 On April 14, 2016 at 9:43 PM, superhawk996 said: Hopefully not a broken timing belt. Yep. sitting in my barn right now waiting for me tomcall a junk yard to sell for scrap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superhawk996 Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 My gut said it was that but hoped it wasn't. If it didn't bend valves it's not a huge deal to fix. It's fairly easy to check them, if you're interested I'll give you a quick how-to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVLXX Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 7 hours ago, superhawk996 said: My gut said it was that but hoped it wasn't. If it didn't bend valves it's not a huge deal to fix. It's fairly easy to check them, if you're interested I'll give you a quick how-to. Actually.... Ever if a valve or 2 is bent slightly, you'd be amazed at how fast it will straighten itself out if you can get it running again (if it's not really bad). My son had a POS 97 escort, same story, bought a belt, figured it was worth a shot on a throw away car... it made a lot of noise for about 5 minutes, then slowly started to quiet down and run fine. I told him he was stupid lucky... that shit doesn't happen every day. but hey, it did that day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superhawk996 Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 2 hours ago, EVLXX said: Actually.... Ever if a valve or 2 is bent slightly, you'd be amazed at how fast it will straighten itself out if you can get it running again (if it's not really bad). My son had a POS 97 escort, same story, bought a belt, figured it was worth a shot on a throw away car... it made a lot of noise for about 5 minutes, then slowly started to quiet down and run fine. I told him he was stupid lucky... that shit doesn't happen every day. but hey, it did that day. I find it very hard to believe that a valve would straighten itself. More likely that one or more lash adjusters were compressed and it just took a couple minutes to pump back up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redxxrdr Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 Philip, I did everything but the headwork late last year on a 98 SOHC Neon. You could easily do the work. The issue is, the value of the car. By the time you add the timing belt, tensioner pully, tensioner ( spring or piston), water pump, head gasket kit, AC and alternator belts ( while you are there) you are in for a few hundred dollars. I also found damaged motor mounts, and leaking coolant hoses. Roughly 160 K miles on this one. A couple days of wrenching after my day job, and lots of swearing, it was running again. Right until Chris drove it fast down dirt roads and loosened the oil and transmission pans. Exit fluids, enter more leaks. For our POS, it was good money after bad. Advice, If you decide to do it. Put the car on decent sized stands. Get lots of light. Don't try to short cut removing stuff. These little engines can be worked on in the car. But you have to dissasemble lots of parts to get to lots of parts. Trying to short cut, just makes things harder. Kinda like changing the alternator on a Mini. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superhawk996 Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 While doing lots of work on a beater sometimes doesn't seem to make sense, replacing it with one with possible unknown issues makes less sense. You were gonna give it to the son in law, if he knows how to fix stuff I'd say do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RXX Posted May 2, 2016 Author Share Posted May 2, 2016 On April 23, 2016 at 11:13 AM, superhawk996 said: While doing lots of work on a beater sometimes doesn't seem to make sense, replacing it with one with possible unknown issues makes less sense. You were gonna give it to the son in law, if he knows how to fix stuff I'd say do it. That's what happening. I am only home 2 weeks a month. We have plenty (too many) vehicles. Good car while it lasted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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