Just got a 2nd Gen Neon....

mxracer0486 · Post by **mxracer0486** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 2:36 am

Hey everyone,

My first post, I just bought a 2000 Neon with quite a bit of miles but I got a pretty good deal on it.

It has 125k miles

, first I would like to ask is that a lot for a dodge motor and what should I be doing, looking for etc.

Second when the engine is warmed up I can hear the normal drivetrain noise but then I hear a faint ticking/clacking not sure if its still the valvetrain and Im being paranoid or what, just wondering if anyone has any info.

I also have the infamous taillight leak, wich I will be siliconing this weekend.

And the only other problem I have found so far is when sitting at a complete stop, if I floor it it kinda lags/stalls for a second before it actually gets up and goes. Mind you its an auto tranny.

Thanx for your help in advance and awesome site!

eVilcreations · Post by **eVilcreations** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:10 am

WELCOME

All of your concerns are normal. I have a 2000 ES with a little over 130,000 on it, and she's still runnin strong. I take very good care of her as far as maintenance, but she's still a good car. The engine noise is normal(I have it too), and the ATX lag is normal also. How good of a deal did you get on your car if you don't mind me asking?

Savior00 · Post by **Savior00** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:26 am

do you know if the wiring or plugs have been changed?
I have about the same miles and I replaced the ignition and wires and it felt much nicer on accel and idle...

keep the stock copper plugs, they are supposed to be best for the neon (so i hear) i dont have them in mine but i will soon.

eVilcreations · Post by **eVilcreations** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:47 am

Stock copper plugs or the NGK Iridium are good too......

mxracer0486 · Post by **mxracer0486** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:45 pm

I got it for about $3800, which was a good price up here. Its funny cuz this ATX Neon feels faster then my 1996 MTX Civic H/B.

Well another weird thing. This morning I start up the neon, go to work no problems everything is fine.

5 hours later I start it up again to get some lunch and for probably 8 mins of driving there was this really fast ticking that would stay in synch with the RPM of the engine. Dunno if maybe its an exhaust leak or what...

mxracer0486 · Post by **mxracer0486** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 8:52 pm

Ok just got off work and the ticking was really loud when first started but quieted after the motor warmed up. Engine fully warm and the ticking is still noticeable.

Post by **Diablo0** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:17 pm

The ticking is normal for neons, it's a combination of piston slap and valvetrain noise. Pretty much every neon has it.

eVilcreations · Post by **eVilcreations** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 10:03 pm

Diablo0 wrote:The ticking is normal for neons, it's a combination of piston slap and valvetrain noise. Pretty much every neon has it.

Yup, jason is on the money......that's pretty much something you just gotta live with......

mxracer0486 · Post by **mxracer0486** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 11:34 pm

It sounds exactly like an exhaust leak though.... it took about 15 mins of driving tonite before it went away. Could this piston slap be dangerous?

eVilcreations · Post by **eVilcreations** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 11:48 pm

nope.......it's normal(well as normal as it can be)

mxracer0486 · Post by **mxracer0486** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 12:43 am

Anyway to make it stfu? LoL

Its annoying driving a nice car that sounds like a beater

It just all the sudden came on.

Well i just got the carfax for my car (ya i should have gotten it before i bought it)

Its all A OK except it was owned by a rental company....

I had one other question..

I have been reading a lot of reviews and stuff on the 2000 Neon and their is A LOT of bad reviews about reliability, how reliable are these things, especially since mines up to 125k miles. Reliable enough to jump in and go on a 600 mile trip?

DannyBoy · Post by **DannyBoy** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 2:12 am

I went on a 1000 mile road trip and my car did very well. My car had 28K at the time.

The best way to get rid of hearing the noise, is by buying an exhaust component that will overcome the sound of the clicking. I have an intake and full exhaust, and I can almost never hear the clicking.

mxracer0486 · Post by **mxracer0486** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 3:02 am

Alright, thanx for the advice, about how long do these engines last if well maintained?

DannyBoy · Post by **DannyBoy** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 3:06 am

mxracer0486 wrote:Alright, thanx for the advice, about how long do these engines last if well maintained?

If you do all the recommended maintenance, such as coolant changes, tranny flushes, power steering and brake fluid, oil, etc. It should last a while.

It is wierd, but I don't know many people who have over 120,000 miles on there 2nd gen. So I am unsure of the longevity of these motors. I have seen first gens with alot of miles, so a 2nd gen should be able to last just as long.

JeremyJ · Post by **JeremyJ** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 3:12 am

The main thing you should look at right now is the timing belt. It is expensive to have changed and a big pain in the ass to do yourself, but it's easier and cheaper than replacing your motor.

Kernel Panic · Post by **Kernel Panic** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 9:44 am

JeremyJ wrote:The main thing you should look at right now is the timing belt. It is expensive to have changed and a big pain in the ass to do yourself, but it's easier and cheaper than replacing your motor.

Tell me about it. I have to do my water pump(got a small drip from the bearing). Total pain in the ass. 80k on the motor.

Polish_neon2 · Post by **Polish_neon2** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 6:16 pm

my buddie has a '00 with 340,000 km i'll try to post it up

mxracer0486 · Post by **mxracer0486** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 11:15 pm

Well I got to drive my car for a while actaully today, whenever my car is cold (just start it up) it doesn't make the clicking noise, it waits a few mins till it warms up a little then clicks(ticks) like crazy and the hotter it gets it gets quieter till it dissapears....

Well I found out it was owned by a rental company so thats kinda scary....

Kernel Panic · Post by **Kernel Panic** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 9:22 am

It has probably seen its fair share of abuse. Then again if it was a decent rental company they usually are right on top of the maint.

mxracer0486 · Post by **mxracer0486** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 9:55 pm

^^ thats exactly what i said.

today i drove my car about 20 miles and it only ticked for like 1 min. it was weird...

mxracer0486 · Post by **mxracer0486** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 10:46 pm

Hmm... today it ticked the whole time i drove, even when it was all the way warmed up...

sxt · Post by **sxt** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 1:42 am

Does the ticking speed up with your RPM's? How loud is it? I kinda sounds like you may have maybe spun a rod bearing.

mxracer0486 · Post by **mxracer0486** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 11:08 pm

The ticking speeds up with the RPM's, its louder when the engine is colder and quieter when its warming. Doesn't start ticking until the engine is a little bit warmed up. I swear it sounds almost like an exhaust leak, doesn't tick on idle, ticks when car is under load.

sxt · Post by **sxt** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 3:49 am

If it doesn't tick at idle but ticks under load. it is more then likely an exhaust leak.

mxracer0486 · Post by **mxracer0486** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 6:02 am

Thats what i thought

mxracer0486 · Post by **mxracer0486** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 3:16 am

Ok I dont really like the looks of bodykits, but i do like the looks of skirts/lips, anyone have any recommendations and places to look?

JustANeon · Post by **JustANeon** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 8:39 am

Mopar, Kaminari

I love the mopar lip kit, its just quite expensive

GTS · Post by **GTS** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 1:18 pm

Well my ticking problems went away with Mobile1 Synthetic oil and oversized filter.

Every time i switch back to regular oil I can hear it escpecially in cold weather .

My neon is 2K1 30000mi now 4years old.

mxracer0486 · Post by **mxracer0486** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:35 pm

Hehe, today smoke started coming out of my hood, pulled over and popped it, noticed that oil was leaking onto the exhaust manifold. Seems like a valve cover gasket

Guess Ill be replacing it this weekend.

Brett R/T · Post by **Brett R/T** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 2:43 am

i'd change the spark plugs, maybe wires, oil/filter for sure as soon as possible along with the valve cover gasket.

regular maintenance will be important if you want it to last.