Help! My car is acting up?
May.15, 2010 in
Ripoff
I hope someone can help me. I have a 200 Dodge Neon that has approx. 118,000 miles on it. It is in pretty good shape and most of the miles are highway miles from my commute. I recently noticed that first thing in the morning it sputtters like it wants to stall (but doesn’t) and also makes a hissing sound when I am driving. Can anyone recommend some things I could do to get my Neon running a little better? I do not want to waste my time doing things that are a waste or a ripoff.
Typo. The car is a 2000 Dodge Neon
May 15th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
if the hissing is from under the hood you may have a vacuum leak, take it to a trusted shop and let them check it out. You should be getting an engine light or trouble code though.
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May 16th, 2010 at 12:36 am
I think there might be a leak some where in the exhaust, intake, or somewhere that might create a vaccum. The sputtering could mean not enough fuel or air is getting into the engine.
I would take it into the dealership just to be sure. You don’t want it breaking down on you in the middle of the highway.
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May 16th, 2010 at 4:36 am
My BMW made the same noise and acted pretty much the same. It turned out that the air intake had a small hole in it. While not movie the car sputtered and “gasped” for air, and while movie the air passing through it sounded like a hissing noise.
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May 16th, 2010 at 9:49 am
it sounds like a vacuum line is off and that would cause a hard starting an a hissing sound
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May 16th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
You may be able to find the “hissing” noise just by checking under the hood and following your “ears” to the spot the noise comes from. I think you have a vacuum leak, and because the air/gas ratio is too lean, it causes the engine to “stumble”, — the vacuum leak is allowing too much air into the system (compared to the calibrated fuel injectionform the electronics). As soon as the engine speeds up the “small” leak no longer “overpowers” the gas/air ratio, – so the engine runs pretty good, as the engine runs faster,– and the faster it runs- the nearer to proper mixture occours, – till it reaches the point that the “leak” makes no noticible difference at all!
When you find the leak, (I would guess a vacuum hose) cover the “hole” or put it back on the place where the “noise is coming from”.- The two shouldn’t be too far apart! Obviously if the hose has a hole in it, you may be able to cut off a little, – but if it is too far away from the connectiong points, you will have to replace it!
Also you may have to remove the air intake tube to get down near the intake “throtle body” -this is the place where the air comes into the engine! It is a rectangular “box” thing about mid way on the back of the engine (between engine and firewall), – there will be an air duct coming in, – which will have to be removed, after which you can see the air filter through the “hole” now open (beacuse duct is removed), from there, – there are some latches you “open” and you can take the fliter out, from there you can see a lot, and you can feel around air intake to see if “sound” changes from the leak (if it does you are very near leak, – as you hand is between the leak and your ears)- if you are close enough you will feel the air sucking against your fingers, and may even happen to “cover the leak” in which case the engine will suddenly start “running right”! Note that you want to be careful where you put your hands though, – move slowly, (you want to stop before you hit something hot)”– also note that with the aircleaner off and the engine running, you are going to hear the air being sucked into the intake system, and it may cover up the sound of the “leak”, so you want to check as much as possible before you remove the air duct- and air cleaner filter. There is another “box “below the air filter, and you should be able to see what to remove after you get that far, – (if you want all the stuff around intake system removed to see better!)
The intake air cduct should be a big wide plastic thing that narrows down to about 4″ wide at the front –kind of to the right side of the top of of engine. I have a 96, and my book only goes to 99. so it could have changed some. but the location at back of engine would be the same., so it shouldn’t be hard to figure out – if it is a little different.
old mechanic
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