1996 Dodge Neon Consumer Discussions

Dodge/Plymouth Neon Maintenance and Repair

• 1996-1999 neon fuel pump/tank

  Written by: limeyjack on Jul 24, 2011 11:57:12 AM

  I have three Neons: My 1996 beauty (the best) has a faulty fuel pump - it occasionally gets stuck when I try to start the engine (but it never sticks while the engine is actually running) - therefore no fuel is delivered and the engine won't fire. The pump motor turns (you can hear it) but the pump mechanism itself does not. The temporary cure is to apply compressed air back ... Read More

Dodge/Plymouth Neon

• Head for a 1996 sohc

  Written by: farout on Mar 14, 2011 8:27:17 PM

  I wonder is anyone cam give me a GOOD place to buy a head for a 1996 Dodge neon. So far all I have found is junk for $200. My 96 belt tensioner broke and bent two valves. I took a chance hoping that did not bend a valve and had the tensioner and belt replaced, I lost. $600. down the drain. I live in central Missouri

• 1996 Dodge Neon

  Written by: akjeffery on Jan 21, 2008 2:40:17 PM

  Hey I have replaced my sensor to the speedometer and the instrument panel and all the gauges work but the speedometer! Does any oine have any suggestions.

• 1996 Dodge Neon

  Written by: farout on Dec 23, 2007 2:50:02 PM

  Our 96 Neon has 196,000 miles on it. Runs good and still gets up to 31 mpg. But this last fall the squirrels made a nest under the hood near the battery. The curse control vacume lines were ate up in several places. It can't be traced how they went. Also the 12 volt outlet won't work and the radio, and when someone opens the back doors with the engine on ... Read More

Dodge Neon vs Dodge Caliber

• Re: Caliber vs Neon [pacerman]

  Written by: farout on Nov 28, 2007 12:37:36 PM

  We have owned three Neons a 1996, 2001 and a 2004. All have gotten more than 33 miles a gallon on a trip. The back seat was for children only as it is a tight squeeze. But the car was less than 2700lbs and the engine with a real automatic transmission worked great. We still have the 1996 and it has 195700 miles on it. I know that a Jeep Compass ... Read More

Dodge/Plymouth Neon

• Re: Problems We Might Encounter w/98 Neon Expresso [arcadefreak36]

  Written by: farout on Aug 27, 2006 6:13:05 PM

  arcadefreak: We have a 1996 Dodge Neon Highline, with 189,700 with the orignal engine. It uses about a quart of oil every 900 miles, and runs very good, still gets 27 to 33 mpg. I hope it runs well a long time. I keep the service done by schedule B. The timing belt and water pump change at 90,000 is one very big key to keep this 2. L running a ... Read More

Dodge-Plymouth Neon Electrical/Lighting

• Re: 96 Neon Electrical [dave110]

  Written by: farout on Jun 24, 2006 5:13:40 PM

  Dave110: I am glad I happened to check this forum today. Our 1996 Dodge Neon had this problem, and proberly every problem known to the Neon. In fact, we bought the extended warranty from Chrysler for $1231. when we bought it on Nov. 11, 1995 for $16,851.00> Glad we did because Dodge spent more on the warranty work over 5 years than we paid for the car! If we did not ... Read More

• Re: airbag light [monkey7312]

  Written by: farout on Jun 24, 2006 5:02:04 PM

  monkey7312: Well I can tell you what it took place in our 1996 Neon. The airbag light eventually stayed on. The main sensor for the air bags had to be replaced. New this sensor is more than $450. Yep, that's I thought too! My Dodge Service writer said he could get one out for a used salvage yard for $150. and $50. installation. It came with a warranty for 90 days. ... Read More

Dodge/Plymouth Neon

• Re: General 2004 Neon Information [hblack2004]

  Written by: farout on Mar 7, 2006 2:34:36 PM

  We have a 2004 Neon SXT automatic. We have 38,000miles on it and the ONLY problem has been a CD player that kept holding on to the CD for a day or so. The CD player was replaced by the dealer under the 7/70. We have had three Dodge Neons. We still have a 96 Dodge neon with 178,000 miles on the original engine. The gas mileage is still about 30mpg ... Read More

• Re: Awful gas mileage on my 2004 neon [btrfly]

  Written by: farout on Feb 3, 2006 1:25:44 PM

  We have a 2004 SXT. Consistently we get 31 to 32mpg. At times when we have 4 in the car and a full trunk, going against the wing we have gotten as bad as 28mpg. We use BP 87 octane and mobil 5-30 at the dealer. I change oil every 4 to 5,000 miles. We have 35,000 miles on it with original plugs. I dumped the oe tires at 8,000 miles ... Read More

• Re: gas leak [zinneon]

  Written by: zinneon on Sep 17, 2005 7:25:07 AM

  this is a 1996 dodge neon

• 1996 Dodge Neon AC Problem

  Written by: rdragon on Sep 3, 2005 10:28:12 PM

  I have a 1996 Neon with SOHC 2.0L 4 door. The problem Im having is the AC blows air but the air is not cold I have gone and get recharge kit to recharge it with R134a will trying to charge the system I started hearing something was unable to find out where it is coming from. But on the gear for the charging kit it would show in the Blue ... Read More

• Re: Troble Shooting The 95 Dodge Neon [bozie]

  Written by: flightofone on Aug 4, 2005 7:51:53 AM

  I had the same intermittent speedometer and instrument problem with my 1996 Plymouth Neon, and fixed it by: 1. Remove the dash by just pulling it up and back. 2. Remove the instrument cluster by removing the 4 PH screws. 3. Using a 1/8" tip soldering iron, add a light coating of solder to each of the 10 pins in each of the 2 rectangular connectors. They are already tinned so ... Read More

• Popping Noise and Loss of Control

  Written by: pertesamor on Jul 8, 2005 6:00:18 PM

  Hey, I have a 1996 Dodge Neon Expresso. It has about 86,500 miles. In the past 2-3 weeks it's been doing some weird things. When I start the car, it makes a loud popping noise, like a tire has been popped. Then, when I put it in drive, the car does not move. It makes a loud whining noise. It is fine in reverse though. I turn off the car, wait ... Read More

• 1996 Dogde Neon Stalling out

  Written by: santa18 on Mar 17, 2004 9:41:41 AM

  I have 96 3-speed dodge neon and it is stalling out on me. I had the trans checked, new fuel pump, new ECM and the repair shop has had it for a few days it has not stalled on them and they aren't getting any codes when they run the diagnostic. It stalled out on me about 6 times in 20 minutes. I mean the car just completely shut off, not ... Read More

• 1996 Dodge neon

  Written by: rundarius on Mar 1, 2003 2:35:52 PM

  I have a 1996 dodge neon 90,000mi I'm having a problem with the speedometer. When it's rainy or humid or when i hit a large bump my speedometer gets stuck...and stops working. My mechanic said there's not much that he can do about it? Any suggestions? Also when driving at speeds of 65mph on highways...my neon seems to fish tail. Is this normal the tires are fairly new and in good ... Read More

• Junkbox?

  Written by: vocus on Mar 11, 2002 12:50:04 PM

  I think it's funny when hearing about the 1995-99 Neons. My ex-roomate's ex-wife has a 1996 Dodge Neon Expresso with about 40K on it. The car has never given a day of problems (of course 40K in 6 years is hardly alot of driving). On the other hand, his 2000 Neon with 40K or so miles has been in the shop many, many times with different stuff all the time. Weird. ... Read More

• 1995 and 1996 Dodge Neons

  Written by: volleyballhun on Jul 18, 2001 8:12:47 PM

  I am considering buying a 1995 or 1996 Dodge Neon and I was wondering if they are nice cars. This is going to be my first car and I heard that the Dodge Neons weren't good cars to buy as used. I also heard about the head gasket problems and I really don't have the money to pay for a new one. Should I still go for the Neon, or are ... Read More

• Asking for advice

  Written by: sergeis on May 24, 2001 10:42:53 AM

  I am looking for a car for my daugter who is graduating from high school - and I saw a 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON SPORT 2 Dr Coupe auto, cruise, power etc. with 87Kmiles for $5K. I have driven Dodge Neon only once as a rental car, was reasonable - my questions are: Does this seem to be reasonable price? Is there difference between Plymouth and Dodge? Are there some things to ... Read More

• expresso

  Written by: hersbird on May 2, 2001 10:37:39 PM

  There were 'sport' labeled dodges in 95-97 as well. The badge looked different, a body colored scripted sport, vs the chrome individual S-P-O-R-T on the 98 and 99's. If anything the early plymouth's were badged 'sport', but I do believe the Dodge never was badged 'expressso' at least in the US. I two neon books from the dealer showroom for the 98 models, one Plymouth and one Dodge. The dealer I ... Read More

• Revised Expresso information...

  Written by: vocus on May 1, 2001 7:19:04 AM

  The sporty appearance package available on the Neon (Dodge and Plymouth) was called Expresso for the 1996 model year. The "Sport" designation did not hit the Neon until the 1998 model year. So there were "Expresso" labeled Dodge and Plymouth Neons. Beanboy: Don't mind you checking my facts at all. Matter of fact, I do research for a living, so try to be right on about my info. I shouldn't really ... Read More

• 138,000 mile Early Production Model 4dr Highline

  Written by: econobiker on Mar 30, 2001 12:17:41 AM

  Wife's car is a '95 Highline bought off the truck in Nov.1994. Oh God the crap that has happened to that car both mechanically and accidents. Wife had car when we got married April 1995 and I have kept detailed log of all this stuff. Bought the "official" Neon manual plus first edition Haynes repair manual. Computer was reprogrammed a few times in first 9 months. Last reprogram was during tuneup ... Read More

1997 Dodge Neon Head Gasket

• About the paint and Head gasket problems...

  Written by: darrint on Feb 10, 2001 5:00:15 PM

  I have a 1996 Ply mouth Neon. At 24K the suspension went south. At about 55K (just out of the warrantee period), the head gasket went ($879.00) and at about 60K the paint began to bubble-up and peel off around the roof-line and sides ($237.00). I could peel every last hint of paint off the car using my fingernails if I wanted to waste an afternoon. It appeared that it wasn't ... Read More

Dodge/Plymouth Neon

• Copperhead...

  Written by: vocus on Aug 22, 2000 8:08:45 PM

  It just seems like you want everyone to love the Neons and if they don't, then there is something wrong with them. You need help dude. Anyway, the friend I speak of and I live in the same house. And I have my own car, but we switch back and forth. He drives my Protege and I drive his Neon (mostly because I take it in for service because I work ... Read More

• P.S.

  Written by: vocus on Jul 30, 2000 5:18:59 AM

  I have never owned a Dodge, Jeep, or Chrysler because I know better. My cousin had a 1998 Wrangler in which the rotors went at 9300 miles. Since the car was 1 month and 3 days over 1 year, Chrysler wasn't going to replace them. After my attorney sent them a nice little letter, they came and got the car from home and replaced the rotors, and washed and waxed the ... Read More