Mopar Techs, 2003 Neon question ???

Hi guys,

My 2.0l 5spd Neon has started to "stumble", surge, shudder, not sure exactly what word to use to descride it.

I can either be at a steady state cruise, or accelerating and all of a sudden, it seems to momentarily fall on its face, then as quickly, pick back up.

Sometimes I have to shove in the clutch, maybe downshift and bring up the rpms, sometimes I can accelerate through it. There seems no consistancy as to when it will happen, very sporadic.

The only change I made was to install a K&N air filter I found in a Pick-n-Pull and left on a long high speed road trip. I normally drive the car very conservatively.

Removed the K&N and installed a brand new paper filter after the trip. I also removed the throttle body and wiped clean with a soft cotton cloth (diaper material).

BTW, the computer is not throwing any codes... at all!

Are there any TSB's for this discrepancy and/or what kind of suggestions do you guys have? Is there someway to monitor while I'm driving?

Thnx in advance,
Mikey Bynum

Check to see if the valve cover oil seals are leaking. pull each plug wire off, and see if there is any oil around any of the spark plugs. I had this happen on my 98 Neon.

Fred

Any cut or hole in the hose between the intake and throttle body? Mil on?

Thnx guys, I'll have a look, though I haven't seen anything out of the ordinary.

SALEM1912, what does "Mil on" mean?

Okay, are there any other suggestions?

Thnx, Mikey Bynum

BTTT

Any Mopar Techs who have experienced this?

All of a sudden the phrase "bucking and snorting" comes to mind when this happens.

I need more ideas, please.

Thnx, Mikey Bynum

Only problem we ever have with my wife's 00 Neon is that it eats spark plugs every two years. I would check the plugs, wires.

Sheldon

If the spark plug wires have more than 25000 miles on them replace them and the plugs.

Quote:

---

SALEM1912, what does "Mil on" mean?

---

Mil on means is the check engine light on, i.e. throwing a code, which you answered in your original posting.

Neons eat plugs and wires, that is where I would start. It's probably the most common cause of what you see. If that isn't it then we can dig into more esoteric stuff. But a basic once over looking for loose connections, unplugged vacuum lines, etc. wouldn't hurt.

As for the K&N, I would put it back in the junkyard myself. There is a reason it flows more air, cause it filters less. Oiled cotton or not, if oiled cotton was so great how come HEPA filters are not oiled cotton? Cause oiled cotton doesn't filter as well.