1998 Plymouth Neon may be electrical

JASON38

MEMBER
1998 PLYMOUTH NEON
141,401 MILES

My car starts but won't stay running. Changed battery, cleaned terminals, changed fuel pump, checked fuses. Don't know what's wrong. Any advice would be great. I think it might be electrical. Took a hose off and it ran for a little bit, but when I put the hose back on it stalled again. I have a half a tank of gas in it and even put a fuel cleaner in and used the best gas. I just cant afford to put alot more money into this car, already put over $70 i, but still can not figure out the problem.

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,873 POSTS

The engine runs so you replaced the fuel pump? There's a lot of fuel, vacuum, emissions, and coolant hoses. If what you disconnected is involved or can provide a clue, you have to be a whole lot more specific about which hose this is. You didn't say which engine you have or if the stalling problem started before or after the battery terminals were cleaned.

If the battery was recently disconnected or run dead the Engine Computer lost its memory and has to relearn "minimum throttle" before it will know when it must be in control of idle speed. The engine will be hard to start unless you hold the gas pedal down 1/4". It also might not give you the normal "idle flare-up" to 1500 rpm when you start the engine, and the engine will want to stall when coming to stop. To meet the conditions for the relearn to take place, drive at highway speed with the engine warmed up, then coast for at least seven seconds without touching the brake or gas pedals.