Car keeps shaking and turns off sometimes brakes dont want to work and doesnt catch speed all the time

Tiny
DELEON346
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 DODGE NEON
  • 144,000 MILES
Ok so my 2003 dodge neon shakes when I start it shakes at stop lights sometimes it will just cut off randomly I could be reversing and it wont brake and kinda***** a little bit then when im pulling out into a street it wont catch speed already changed the valves, computer, sensors, timing belt, pistons, motor mounts
Monday, January 9th, 2012 AT 12:58 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,932 POSTS
Do I understand correctly that you had major engine repairs done in an attempt to solve what sounds like a simple misfire condition? What led you to those parts? Has anyone checked for stored diagnostic fault codes? Is the Check Engine light on? Did the problem exist before the engine parts were replaced?
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Monday, January 9th, 2012 AT 2:45 AM
Tiny
DELEON346
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The timing belt broke then it bent one of the lifters then that had to replaced then other things had to be replaced because the mechanic said that was the problem then he said it was something else then something else I dont think he really figured out the problem and yes the check engine light is on
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Monday, January 9th, 2012 AT 11:50 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,932 POSTS
Now THAT makes sense. At 144,000 miles, if that was the original timing belt, it was way overdue for replacement. So I assume the engine was running okay until the belt broke. Bent valves are the result on any "interference" engine, as you found out.

It sounds like the new belt is misadjusted by one tooth. That would result in all of the symptoms you described, including the Check Engine light. The Engine Computer looks at the crankshaft position sensor and camshaft position sensor signals to determine if they're lined up correctly as you drive. If the timing belt is off one tooth, that will be detected, the light will turn on, and the fault code will be "cam and crank sync". At two teeth off, the Engine Computer will shut the engine down to protect those valves. At three teeth off, or when the timing belt breaks, any open valves will be hit and bent by the moving pistons as they coast to a stop.

Here's three things for your mechanic to check. First, double-check that the timing marks are correct and the camshaft sprocket isn't off by one tooth. Second, perform a compression test to verify the replaced valves didn't get bent again from improper reassembly procedures. This third thing only applies to the single overhead cam engine. Read the fault code(s) first. If there is one related to cam and crank sync and the timing belt is on correctly, check the key between the camshaft and sprocket to see if it is sheared off. That was common in the '90s. That will let the sprocket turn on the camshaft just enough to make it LOOK to the computer like the timing belt jumped one tooth. That will result in the same engine performance problems you listed.
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Tuesday, January 10th, 2012 AT 12:43 AM

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