engine idles rough?

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:51 pm

Car:
01 dodge neon ATX (stock) 100+k

symptoms:
it all started while on a trip, we were cruising along and all of a sudden the car started missing terrible (i slowed down) the CEL was flashing but never stayed on, after a few miles it started running properly again and the CEL stopeed flashing so i just kept driving but ever since at idle the car will run rough but not to the extent its missing, once the throttle is pressed the rough running goes away. if you pull any 1 spark plug wire at a time it will idle worse so its not cyl specific. It also has poor gas mileage and a lack of power initially. NO CODES HAVE EVER STORED

corrective actions thus far:
New/replaced: timing belt, tensioner, water pump, plugs, wires, coil pack, aic, air filter, cat, 02 sensors, and torque struts.
i've also seafoamed the engine, checked grounds, and reset the computer a couple times with no real change.

things i haven't checked or replaced:
cam sensor, crank sensor, fuel pump/regulator, map, TPS, bitching woman.

I'm tired of throwing money aimlessly at it so i'm asking you guys what you think might be the most likely cause so i'm not replacing everything on the list.
help!

nerox · Post by **nerox** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 3:07 pm

clogged fuel pump ?

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 3:20 pm

nerox wrote:clogged fuel pump ?

very possible although what keeps me from pointing the finger at it is that wouldnt it have issues at highway speeds if the fuel pump was the issue?

nerox · Post by **nerox** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 3:47 pm

thats quite true ... maybe an intermittant sensor ?

i'm not sure how dangerous it would be (best check with someone else first) but why not run the engine while the fault is occuring and then disconnect the various sensors one at a time ... in theory, if you have a duff sensor, when you unplug one of them ... nothing will happen ... and this would be your most likely culprit ?

Jerome Adams · Post by **Jerome Adams** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 8:23 pm

I have similar issues on my 106K mtx....(thread in engines forum). Initially they suggested IAC, but then Occasional Demons said TPS going bad. I did more research and it sounds like the TPS.

My car hasn't acted too bad yesterday or today, so I am hoping it holds out for awhile.

LionheartedSXT · Post by **LionheartedSXT** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 7:28 pm

Sounds like the same problem I had a couple months ago, check/change your Cam position sensor. That sounds like the most reasonable problem for the symptoms your seeing. Relatively cheap fix, about $20 at your neighborhood auto store. If that still does not solve it then it may come down to the crank sensor being faulty. Hope that helps!