Neon, please stop leaking green liquid! Help?

[Lucanesti]

Hello friendly Neon peoples

I've put 5k on my '00 MTX Plymouth Neon since I've bought it.
I have a few issues developing and wanted to get some thoughts of smart car people Thank you!

Listed in my assumed severity of the problem.

1. It's profusely leaking coolant from what appears to be that fan in the front of the car, after looking for like an hour I can't find what is leaking, but its definitely coming from this fan, maybe the front of the engine but I doubt it.

2. The radiator fan never comes on, if I let the car idle for longer than 10 minutes it will begin to overheat. I accidently overheated it once when I didnt know this. When I got in the car it was dinging like the car door was open. Soon as I moved forward it cooled off quickly.

3. Sometimes when I put the defrost on, it goes WRUWRHUWR and vibrates the whole car. It makes people look at me

4. A girl hit my windshield with the tool you use to break out windows when you're underwater or something, so its cracked and spreading.

5. My front left tire makes weird rubbery noises.

Any input, links to guides or any input would be appreciated! Or just tell me off, whatever you want to do. If pictures are needed of the leak I can take some but there is no obvious leaking place, its everywhere in the front of the engine bay area, it drips off the front bumper.

If for some reason you want to text me, 3308064041.

THANK YOU!!!

[nerox]

1. I dont think the fan itself can leak, i think a split in the radiator is most likely, but also check the drain valve, the o-ring might be perished causing it to dribble out.

2. check the fuse, if good try shorting out the relay, it could be stiking open, if not ... try shoring the fan motor directly to the batter, most likely to be fuse, relay or motor IMO

3. what exactly is going WRUWRHUWR?

4. the window is gonna need replacing

5. could be tyre rubbing on the arch or something?

[Lucanesti]

I don't know what makes the WHURWHURURUR noise but its only when I put it on defrost, its a scary loud noise it shakes the car and I just shut it off and wait a minute when it does that.

Is the windscreen a dig pull a part deal or should I take it somewhere? One local place quoted me 160 for a new one installed.

The tire rubbing on the arch is caused by? Bad alignment?

I jacked the car up and started it but I just can't seem to find the leak.

[wickedgood4684]

Listed in my assumed severity of the problem.

1. It's profusely leaking coolant from what appears to be that fan in the front of the car, after looking for like an hour I can't find what is leaking, but its definitely coming from this fan, maybe the front of the engine but I doubt it.

2. The radiator fan never comes on, if I let the car idle for longer than 10 minutes it will begin to overheat. I accidently overheated it once when I didnt know this. When I got in the car it was dinging like the car door was open. Soon as I moved forward it cooled off quickly.

I'm going to assume that these to are coming from the same problem. Your radiator is leaking. Its leaking on to the fan causing it to short. Replace the radiator. Check to see if the fan works but adding power to it.

3. Sometimes when I put the defrost on, it goes WRUWRHUWR and vibrates the whole car. It makes people look at me

This could be realated to the top 2 problems, but when the Defrost come on it also cycles the A/C to help remove moisture from he air passing through it. So it is possible that there is also something wrong with your A/C cycling system.

4. A girl hit my windshield with the tool you use to break out windows when you're underwater or something, so its cracked and spreading.

Take it, or call someone to have it replaced.

5. My front left tire makes weird rubbery noises.

Also take is somewhere and have it checked.

[occasional demons]

Is said girl that hit windshield now stuck to the tire?


Everything else, I have to pretty much agree with. The A/C is likely building too much pressure from the fan not running with the A/C compressor. You need to replace the radiator,and fix the fan problem, right after you have the tire checked. Or if not mechanically inclined, bite the bullet, and have a shop take care of it all at once.

[Lucanesti]

The AC system works, blowing cold air and the condenser works. Would that cause it to make the noise if it works?

[occasional demons]

The A/C is likely building too much pressure from the fan not running with the A/C compressor..

It may work, but you are killing it with no fan running, while the car is not moving forward. I am surprised the high pressure switch doesn't cut it off.

The shaking and noise is prolly due to working against the system pressure.

[Lucanesti]

So the radiator fan needs to spin for the A/C?

This morning I filled the reservoir and took it for a 5 minute cruise, enough to get it up to its normal temp and confirmed heat does not work. Two steady drips from the front bumper towards driver side.

Where would it leak from if it was a crack in the radiator or a hose?

Where would it leak from if it was a serious problem (head gasket)

Would anyone be willing to help me find the parts I will need on autozone for Timing Belt, Timing Belt Tension, Waterpump and Thermostat and the gaskets you need for those?

I want to repair all of these now IF its not the head gasket now and I've ruined my engine

[occasional demons]

So the radiator fan needs to spin for the A/C?

Yes.

Leaking from the bumper is definitely the radiator, or hose. A HG leak would be coming from the engine area. Or your oil would be milky and/or white exhaust smoke.

Just enter the year of your car into AZ's site, and it will automatically give you the right parts

[Xployted77]

I had some of the same problems you are talking about with my first neon..

You might have a small crack in the Radiator that widens as the rad gets hotter then starts to shrink as it cools, making it tough to find the leak. I just replaced my rad instead of trying to by some stop leak or crap like that. Also check the hoses to make sure they are not cracked.

For the sound the engine/car makes when you kick on the defrost, I had something like that but my car did not shake, I did however find out that once I replaced the fan (mine was living on one bearing and alot of prayers) it stopped making the sound. Most likely your fan is toasted. But I would suggest testing it by running it right off the battery, cause it may just be a relay that got shorted with the leaking.

for the windshield, I just wanna know how bad you pissed her off that she did that. Make her pay for a new one. But most insurances will cover the windshield for free if you have the coverage, just tell them a stick or rock hit it while driving.

All in all, I would get it check out by a garage, your tire could be an alignment issue or something to that nature.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

[Lucanesti]

Hi guys. Thanks for all of your input. Its so nice talking to people when things like this happen.

I ended up having a cracked radiator, a fried radiator fan
and a bad thermostat. My mechanic, a backyard mechanic my neighbor knew who makes a living doing cars fixed it all with autozone parts for 300 all together. He also got my air filter box open without me even asking!

Cars so.much better. Filter was black, I put a new fram in and left the cover off. What do I do with that sensor if I want to take the whole.box out and resonator and just a cone filter?

[Xployted77]

Just get a Cold Air Intake. Most of them come with a sensor housing for the sensor. You can get the CAI on ebay or any autoparts website. AEM is a good one, or if money is an issue you can go with one off ebay for about $30. This will replace the air box and all and also give you a little boost in performance. Good luck..

[occasional demons]

it may just be a relay that got shorted with the leaking.

There are no relays close enough to get coolant on them from anything short of a hose exploding. The fan motor is weather tight, a little moisture will not harm it. Otherwise every time it rains, it would be toast.

Until you get a CAI, put the elbow back on, and re attach the lid. All you are diong is sucking air from the top most part of the engine bay, which is the hottest. The AIT sensor can be tie wrapped out of the way, if it is not put in the air inlet stream.

The oem set up is basically a CAI as is. With the elbow in place, and the lid on, the air box temp is the same as ambient, even when it hits 90º ambient temps.

I know, I put a remote thermometer in mine years back, just to see how warm it actually got in there. As long as the engine is running, it stays cool in there.

[Lucanesti]

I just hate how quiet and wimpy sounding the car is with all that though. Any CAI is going to have the filter right around the same place where it is now, I cant just shove the filter on the end of the intake hose and rip all that plastic out?

The car sounds a lot better with that lid off.

[occasional demons]

A CAI mounts the filter in the wheel well, in front of the splash guard.

What you are talking about would be more like a SRI. (Short Ram intake.) There is a thread called show off your CAI, or something to that effect. You can get some ideas from that.


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