1998 Dodge Neon Dies while driving

Tiny
CLINT_ANDERSON13
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 DODGE NEON
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 126,423 MILES
I have a 1998 Neon that keeps dying in the middle of the road. There is no warning such as bucking or hesitation, it just dies. I read as many articles as I could about the car and thought I'd just start with the biggest part first, I replaced the PCM. It started right up but then died trying to back out of the driveway and wouldn't start again. Ocassionally it will restart in 2 - 10 minutes and drive another short distance. I tested for spark right after it died and it was fine. I also tested the fuel pressure right after it died and it was fine. 49 while runnung and 46 after stall but held steady. I am now thinking about replacing the Cam and Crank sensors, any ideas as to how I should proceed? I checked the codes in the computer after the stall and received a code 12 as the only trouble. It tends to die when I hit a bump, go around a corner, or apply my brakes. No one more than the others but those are the times it usually happens.
Another interesting thing just happened. I got it running and tried wiggling the pcm to see if it would cut out and it didn't but when I dropped the hood shut and it slammed, the car died. Hope all of these little quirks help us get somewhere.
Thursday, February 14th, 2008 AT 11:08 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Need to have it scanned with a handheld scanner to get the correct codes. I have seen both cam and crank sensors go out in those cars. Have also sen the ASD (auto shut down relay) go bad in them. Located in the underhood fuse/relay center
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Thursday, February 14th, 2008 AT 4:01 PM
Tiny
CLINT_ANDERSON13
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I changed the cam and crank sensors with no change. Why are these cars so difficult to diagnose? It's like they defy all common rules of mechanics and just suck you dry. Any new ideas? The PCM isn't throwing any codes to the code scanner.
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Wednesday, February 20th, 2008 AT 6:50 PM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Try an ASD relay. I dont know why, those little Neons do this all the time and it seems like there is no uniform fix
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Thursday, February 21st, 2008 AT 7:08 AM
Tiny
CLINT_ANDERSON13
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Had a mechanic friend of mine look at the car and the wire harness that runs from the fuse box to the PCM is poked all full of holes from some previous owner checking volts. Also the part of the harness that connects the Alternator, cam sensor, crank sensor, and coil together had numerous shorts in it where the wires were melted together and wires had rubbed through and were grounding out on the block. Quoted a new harness through Dodge - $1000.00! That's more than the cars should have been worth new. My friend is going to rebuild it from scratch just saving the connectors. Cross my fingers that this works and maybe gives someone else a place to look for similar problems of their own.
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Thursday, February 21st, 2008 AT 7:34 PM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Good luck
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Friday, February 22nd, 2008 AT 7:03 AM

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