97 Neon Head gasket problems.

Posted By: IMGTX

97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/08/12 12:54 AM

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

Posted By: DusterJeff

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/08/12 02:53 AM

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.....

Posted By: Magnumguy

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/08/12 03:03 AM

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.

Posted By: DaveRS23

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/08/12 03:10 AM

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.

Posted By: ahy

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/08/12 03:14 AM

Head gasket failure on Neons built before about mid '98 is common. The replacement gaskets are the MLS type and hold up well.

Posted By: 6PakBee

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/08/12 04:20 PM

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.

Posted By: Supercuda

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/08/12 04:28 PM

cam sensor seal also gets leaky, had that happen. UV dye and a UV light are your friend.

Posted By: IMGTX

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/08/12 04:54 PM

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.

Posted By: moparmarks

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/08/12 04:57 PM

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.

Posted By: peabodyracing

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/08/12 05:14 PM

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.

Posted By: DusterJeff

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/08/12 06:56 PM

Lemme know when and where you find the oil leak......so I can cure mine.....Maybe have to try the dye and light trick yet...

Posted By: 6PacCuda

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/08/12 07:23 PM

I have changed tons of the oil sending units on Neons and other makes. Easy fix and around $20.

Posted By: Aero426

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/08/12 07:55 PM

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.

Posted By: rallye73

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/09/12 02:47 AM

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.

Posted By: rtidd440

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/09/12 08:40 AM

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.

Posted By: MLR426

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/09/12 03:22 PM

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

Posted By: rallye73

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/09/12 06:37 PM

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.

Posted By: MLR426

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/09/12 08:58 PM

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

Posted By: aduster340

Re: 97 Neon Head gasket problems. - 01/13/12 10:23 AM

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