Just got a 2nd Gen Neon....

slowmopar1 · Post by **slowmopar1** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:59 am

My 2k ATX has 130K+ and still runs like a champ. I maintain it very well (I work at an autoparts place so that makes it easier) but I bought it from my sister who didn't. The motors will take a lot of abuse and neglect and still keep going. I had a lot to fix when I got it. Make sure you service the tranny. The neon 3 speed trannys are prone to going out if you don't service them every 60K miles religiously.

dvon17 · Post by **dvon17** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:47 pm

glad I searched it... I have that insanely annoying ticking noise and it's pissing me off. I wanted to ask you guys (and I'm hoping to get a quick answer...)

Will changing to Mobil1 Synthetic & using Lucas (Synthetic) oil additive crap (lol) help???

Post by **Canada** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:26 am

How many miles on your car?

The issue with changing to Syn with a lot of miles, is the molecules are smaller, and may tend to start seeping past seals, where conventional oil doesn't. Therefore, you may find you start developing small oil leaks.

dvon17 · Post by **dvon17** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:32 am

Canada wrote:How many miles on your car?

The issue with changing to Syn with a lot of miles, is the molecules are smaller, and may tend to start seeping past seals, where conventional oil doesn't. Therefore, you may find you start developing small oil leaks.

aah crap. I have like 135-136k. my odometer says 97k bcuz I swapped my basic one for one with a tach better lol.

Ok...another question then...what if I just changed the valve cover & oil pan gaskets first? (there's no real way to check if those are worn enough to switch, huh?

TomsNeon · Post by **TomsNeon** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 1:33 pm

I got ya all beat so far.....199231 on my '00 Neon. Runs like a champ but I'm babying it big time til taxes come around so I can get the timing belt, water pump and tensioner changed out...priced it and it'd be 3.5 hours labor at the only trusted shop I'd take it to and if I bring him the parts, $325 to install and change the stuff out. I have a small coolant leak and oil plug issues I've posted on here and gotten great help on fixing, just have to do it (the coolant one I started yesterday and keeping an eye on, waiting til payday to do the oil pan plug).

When it hits 200K, I plan on taking a pic of the odometer and posting it up here to "brag" LOL as well as a pic of the car itself. She's not gorgeous but not a rust bucket either.

The guys on here are very knowledgeable and helpful I might add!

freelancer1988 · Post by **freelancer1988** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 2:54 pm

I have nowhere near 200k miles, but that is good for any motor in my opinion. Just change your oil every 3000 miles if conventional and use a good oil filter. I have only used Castrol GTX and Purolator Gold filters and have no problem. No tick either, but I do have a new motor with only 7k on it at the moment....

Mine died from the previous owner and what I believe was a timing belt breaking. He paid for it though. lol.

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:54 pm

At 200,000 miles, I would have the compression checked before spending too much on a timing belt. I have seen a low mile '01 2.0 on craigs list for $700. I'm sure you could find a replacement engine for less, with some searching, and patience.

For the cost of rebuilding, you could buy the timing belt, install it on the replacement engine yourself, since it will be much more accessible out of the car. Then use the labor to do the belt towards swapping the engine.

A little more time saving $, yes, but you will be farther ahead of the game. Compression shouldn't be any lower than 160/170 per cylinder when at operating temp. The optimum is 225 PSI.

Mine has between 90 and 110 across the board at 194,000. No real reason to put any more $ into that engine. Unless I do a really cheap rebuild, I could probably get a lower mileage 2.4 for what it would cost to have it rebuilt professionally, and that is basically just the bottom end, because the head has low miles on it.

TomsNeon · Post by **TomsNeon** » Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:09 am

occasional demons wrote:At 200,000 miles, I would have the compression checked before spending too much on a timing belt. I have seen a low mile '01 2.0 on craigs list for $700. I'm sure you could find a replacement engine for less, with some searching, and patience.

For the cost of rebuilding, you could buy the timing belt, install it on the replacement engine yourself, since it will be much more accessible out of the car. Then use the labor to do the belt towards swapping the engine.

A little more time saving $, yes, but you will be farther ahead of the game. Compression shouldn't be any lower than 160/170 per cylinder when at operating temp. The optimum is 225 PSI.

Mine has between 90 and 110 across the board at 194,000. No real reason to put any more $ into that engine. Unless I do a really cheap rebuild, I could probably get a lower mileage 2.4 for what it would cost to have it rebuilt professionally, and that is basically just the bottom end, because the head has low miles on it.

Occasional Demons, man, you are a plethora of knowledge! Thank you for the info and heads up on a compression test. Is there any "home" test I can do to accomplish this? See, my main issue is the wife thinks I'm dumping $$ into a car that doesn't need it. Her thing is "drive it til it dies". She's not happy I need a new rad, need an oversized drain plug or replace the pan, it's need a tune up, needs the timing belt and stuff done.....she thinks it's a money pit when really, we got it from a friend who got it at an auction so who knows how well it was taken care of before we got it you know? Those things need to be done regardless but she doesn't get that I guess. So what it boils down to, anything I can do myself as cheap as possible is the road I need to take even though I'd rather spend a little now and get things done right.

So anyways, is there some sort of a test I can do myself for the compression?

NEON PARABOLA · Post by **NEON PARABOLA** » Thu Nov 01, 2012 12:10 pm

^ been there,done that. The fix i found with my wife, was to include her in the repair work (let her help,or do it with your help) now my wife spends all week excited about the weekends when we have time to fix small things. She did the majority of the re-assembly work when I did my timing belt/water pump.

TomsNeon · Post by **TomsNeon** » Thu Nov 01, 2012 12:26 pm

NEON PARABOLA wrote:^ been there,done that. The fix i found with my wife, was to include her in the repair work (let her help,or do it with your help) now my wife spends all week excited about the weekends when we have time to fix small things. She did the majority of the re-assembly work when I did my timing belt/water pump.

That'd be great but when it comes to cars and such, that's the "man's job" to take care of so I'm still at square one.

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Nov 01, 2012 12:36 pm

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/access ... ing=search

Tell her when she gets a disposable income, she can have disposable cars.

TomsNeon · Post by **TomsNeon** » Thu Nov 01, 2012 12:38 pm

occasional demons wrote:http://www.autozone.com/autozone/access ... ing=search

Thank you!

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Thu Nov 01, 2012 2:48 pm

occasional demons wrote:Tell her when she gets a disposable income, she can have disposable cars.

Hahah werd