i have posted on the neons.org forums, they blow. it's 420a so i figure i can get help here. :-) the car runs like balls. just changed timing belt and waterpump due to massive oil leak from the cam gear seal. no leaks, burped the coolant system, drove it around for like 45 minutes and then it just started acting up, idle real low, killing it self, stuttering, etc. i dont believe it is physical timing related because every once and a while, it will idle right, start right up, but only for about 30 seconds, then back to crap. i changed the spark plugs, gonna change the coil pack if the 2gnt coil pack fits it tomorrow, im getting fuel via the test port on the rail. anything else that should def be changed. i havent driven this car for more than 15 miles so i dont know much else about it. im thinking electrial/sensor related, or ignition.

driggs?! i know you had a neon turd. ;-)

well you said you chagned the timing belt so Im betting its not in time, redo it. lines must line up exactly.

also check the timing belt tensioner to make sure its not leaking and is installed correctly

Originally posted by mcgyvr
well you said you chagned the timing belt so Im betting its not in time, redo it. lines must line up exactly. also check the timing belt tensioner to make sure its not leaking and is installed correctly

Yea, the first time I did timing it would not line up at all. Just keep checking it, turning the crank twice to ensure it's still good.

But definitely replace some of the ignition stuff (wires, plugs, and coil pack) it has over 100,000 miles. I had to replace my spark plug wires at a little over 100,000 miles because it was misfiring and idling horribly.

Coolant Temp sensor could be bad/unplugged.

i forgot to mention, it is SOHC, you cant mess it up. :D the belt slides on, no tweaking. tensioner was in good working order.

how would the coolant temp sensor cause a crappy running car? i thought that would only mess with the temp of the car.

The CTS has the ECU dump extra fuel in during warm up. If it's borked then it can cause irratic idle etc.

do you know how one would test the CTS? or go RTFM?

RTFM but they are cheap. Be sure you're testing the CTS and not the other sensor that just feeds the temp gauge on the cluster as it does not relay a signal into the ECU.

Originally posted by 992gnt
Coolant Temp sensor could be bad/unplugged.

x2 I had the exact same problem, replaced the CTS and that was all it needed. It had split in two actually. As soon as the car warmed up all the way, it started acting up.