97 Neon Head gasket problems.
#1152461
01/07/12 08:54 PM
01/07/12 08:54 PM
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12,234
Looking for a way out of Middl...
IMGTX
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12,234
Looking for a way out of Middl...
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I have a small stream of bubbles in the coolant. Are the head gasket problems that are common to these engines just head gaskets or are head warpage/cracks the more common problem? I have a spare head. If I can expect head problems I will go ahead and get it re-worked in advanced. Thanks in advance 
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Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems.
[Re: IMGTX]
#1152462
01/07/12 10:53 PM
01/07/12 10:53 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 618
Vesper,Wisconsin U.S.A
DusterJeff
mopar
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mopar
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 618
Vesper,Wisconsin U.S.A
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Hello...The heads seem to have been a problem with the Neons,I have a 96 Neon,I had head problems,pulled the head and had it resurfaced and installed a new head gasket.I had antifreeze mixed with oil so I had no choice but to do it.Not too difficult.When I got the parts from Carquest,I had to buy new bolts for the head,parts guy told me they have to be replaced,wasn,t to expensive.As long as I was doing it, I replaced the water pump and timing belt,fairly straightforward according to the Haynes Manual I have.No problems to speak of since.I still have a mysterious oil leak but I think it is a o-ring for the oil filter bracket.I love my Neon,I get 37 miles to the gallon on a bad day,42 on the highway for long trips.....  
Do Something..Lead..Follow..or get the {Beep} out of the way..
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Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems.
[Re: DusterJeff]
#1152463
01/07/12 11:03 PM
01/07/12 11:03 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,644
S.E.Ohio
Magnumguy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,644
S.E.Ohio
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I thought it was the gasket, bought my daughter a 96, was leaking from the driver's side rear, supposedly the gaskets' were faulty, same trouble the early Omni/Horizon's had. I always wondered, as I read somewhere where the same corner's headbolt was not tapped far enough, and couldn't be tightened enough, thus would leak. 
Last edited by Magnumguy; 01/07/12 11:06 PM.
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Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems.
[Re: IMGTX]
#1152464
01/07/12 11:10 PM
01/07/12 11:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,076
Benton, IL.
DaveRS23
Special needs idiot
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Special needs idiot
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,076
Benton, IL.
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What's the history here? How long have you owned the car? The problem was the fiber head gaskets, not the head itself, unless someone got it really hot at some point.
I would expect at this late date that the head gasket had already been changed. The originals didn't last too long.
I always have my heads cleaned, pressure-checked, checked for straightness and valves and seats ground. What you should get back from the machine shop is a viable head that is ready to go.
The head bolts are torque-yields, and as such are supposed to be used just once. In reality, I often reuse them with no problems. But then the replacements are not a lot of money. Use your judgement.
As mentioned above, change the timing belt, cam seals, cam sensor gasket and water pump.
Master, again and still
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Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems.
[Re: DusterJeff]
#1152466
01/08/12 12:20 PM
01/08/12 12:20 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,714
North Dakota
6PakBee
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,714
North Dakota
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Quote:
Hello...The heads seem to have been a problem with the Neons,I have a 96 Neon,I had head problems,pulled the head and had it resurfaced and installed a new head gasket.I had antifreeze mixed with oil so I had no choice but to do it.Not too difficult.When I got the parts from Carquest,I had to buy new bolts for the head,parts guy told me they have to be replaced,wasn,t to expensive.As long as I was doing it, I replaced the water pump and timing belt,fairly straightforward according to the Haynes Manual I have.No problems to speak of since.I still have a mysterious oil leak but I think it is a o-ring for the oil filter bracket.I love my Neon,I get 37 miles to the gallon on a bad day,42 on the highway for long trips.....
I am still fighting a mysterious oil leak in the vicinity of the oil filter adapter. I changed the O-ring out and that did not solve the problem. I have the Neon up on blocks right now. It's today's project to try to find out what's happening.
"We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".
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Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems.
[Re: 6PakBee]
#1152467
01/08/12 12:28 PM
01/08/12 12:28 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
Supercuda
About to go away
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About to go away
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
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cam sensor seal also gets leaky, had that happen. UV dye and a UV light are your friend.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question.
They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
Don't be the exception.
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Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems.
[Re: DaveRS23]
#1152468
01/08/12 12:54 PM
01/08/12 12:54 PM
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12,234
Looking for a way out of Middl...
IMGTX
OP
I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12,234
Looking for a way out of Middl...
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Quote:
What's the history here?
The car is a 95 and has over 300K on it with the original head gasket, ASFAIK. I was surprised myself but our family is the second owner and had it for over 200K ourselves.
Last summer it started burning oil and wouldn't pass emissions.
I picked up a junkyard engine from a running car with unknown mileage but apparently well taken care of. I did find they replaced the timing belt but incorrectly installed the tensioner.
I replaced the timing belt, water pump, Intake gaskets and cleaned the intake & throttle body.
The engine passed emmissions testing with 12 HC (limit of 220) and zero CO's. 
Then I noticed small amounts of water usage. Runs great and oil clean so I caught it early.
As good as it runs I would love to save the money and just slap a gasket on it, but if I can expect the head to be warped I will rework the old one before I start.
Sounds like I will just slap a gasket on it and check for warping wile I am in there.
I am not sure on the head bolts. Repair manual says reuse them. Parts store says replace them.
It's not the money, but I fear I will get some asian junk for bolts and wish I had kept the originals.... I am leaning towards replacing them though.
Thanks for the advice everyone.
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Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems.
[Re: Supercuda]
#1152469
01/08/12 12:57 PM
01/08/12 12:57 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,494
Western Colorado High Desert
moparmarks
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,494
Western Colorado High Desert
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The head gasket on my daughter's 97 Neon was leaking oil out the back side. I replaced it and was running the motor letting it warm up and checking for leaks and such. After a little while oil started gushing out onto the ground. The rear main seal actually popped loose while it sitting there in front of me running. 
72 Satellite Sebring Plus 440, 72 Dart 5.9 4-spd, 68 Valiant, 73 W200, 78 D100 sb, 78 D200, 98 DAKOTA, . Moparmarks Parts & Restorations Desert Mopar Metal Grand Jct. CO 970-261-7039 http://moparmark.com/motormangj@gmail.com
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Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems.
[Re: moparmarks]
#1152470
01/08/12 01:14 PM
01/08/12 01:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,212
Minnesota
peabodyracing
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,212
Minnesota
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I owned a 95, 97, 98 and 2000 Neon. The 95 had the head gasket and then the head replaced under warranty. If I recall correctly they changed the head design once and the gasket design at least twice. The car then ran for 200,000 without incident.
The 97 never acted up on me but I traded it in on the 2000 because of piston slap when cold. The dealer wouldn't do anything about it. 4 years later I bought a cheap 97 Neon with bad head gasket and 70,000 on the clock. Turned out to be the same darn car I had traded in. The gasket was replaced along with the head bolts and that was that. I just ran with the piston slap.
It seems the cam seals in the head were prone to leaking some oil and the way it leaked I'd have bet money it was the rear main.
Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way
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Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems.
[Re: peabodyracing]
#1152473
01/08/12 03:55 PM
01/08/12 03:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,030
Wisconsin
Aero426
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,030
Wisconsin
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Quote:
The 97 never acted up on me but I traded it in on the 2000 because of piston slap when cold. The dealer wouldn't do anything about it.
Many Neons seem to have different degrees of piston slap when cold. I can pick out the sound while walking through a parking lot. Both of ours have it. Both are still running, 96 and 99.
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Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems.
[Re: IMGTX]
#1152475
01/09/12 04:40 AM
01/09/12 04:40 AM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 819
Central Ohio
rtidd440
super street
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super street
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 819
Central Ohio
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If you have a coolant and not an oil problem you might give Moroso's engine sealer a try. Stuff is about 13$ a bottle at jegs and put my 95 dohc back on the road after I over heated it about 20 times. No problems since then. Seems to good to be true but I have a pal been at jegs for 20 years and sells the stuff all the time. never had a complaint. Worked for me, and after I got it so hot on the freeway it shut itself off. I got a litt pi$$ed off that day and just leter run.
Rob
70 Swinger 340 4spd FC7 4 sale
69 Charger auto Q5
14 Challenger SRT8 Core 6spd black
Deposit on Hellcat
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Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems.
[Re: rtidd440]
#1152476
01/09/12 11:22 AM
01/09/12 11:22 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,799
ILL
MLR426
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,799
ILL
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Do not put it back on unless you surface the deck of the head and install new head bolts. I would see these head come in the shop from 80-125k miles. If you are going to keep the car have the head rebuilt. Many people have gone the stop leak route with success but if they keep dumping stop leak in it, it will stop the heater core up.
I have surfaced a lot of those heads.
logan426
Last edited by Logan426; 01/09/12 11:24 AM.
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Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems.
[Re: rallye73]
#1152478
01/09/12 04:58 PM
01/09/12 04:58 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,799
ILL
MLR426
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,799
ILL
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Quote:
Be carefull resurfacing the head on the SOHC motor. Best I remember .010 is all you can safely go resurfacing. Anymore than that and you'll need a new head.
Single over head cam has nothing to do with it, it has to do with valve clearances. You can go 15 safely and more close to 20. But I recommend if going above 15 to buy a head saver steel shim. You don't have to buy or get a new head.
logan426
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Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems.
[Re: rallye73]
#1152479
01/13/12 06:23 AM
01/13/12 06:23 AM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 759
10,000 lakes and a swamp
aduster340
super street
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super street
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 759
10,000 lakes and a swamp
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Quote:
My 95 just started getting alittle piston slap and it's got around 200k on it. It's a DOHC if that makes much difference. I'm gonna drive it till it dies then I'll rebuild it and maybe do a little headwork and put a set of crower cams in it.
Go with the Crower stage 3's and your little 2.0 will be lots of fun from 3000-7800 rpm 
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