Dodge - Neon :: 1996 - Engine Loses Power When Accelerating
Aug 13, 2012
Turns out the crank shaft position sensor only fixed the cars ability to start and stop and did not cure the acceleration issue. What happens? The symptoms occur during the following conditions.
1. Hard acceleration
2. Going up hills
3. With heavy loads
Basically the car loses power and sounds like it is getting muffled. Then it just picks up rapidly and takes off.I have tested out the throttle position sensor and it checks out fine. The car never completely stops.If I feather the throttle, it picks up and keeps moving forward.
Haven't tried the EGR valve, fuel filter or fuel pump.
Strange thing though.The car was sitting for about two months until I replaced the crank shaft position sensor. Then it started up fine, and ran without problems.The tank went low, and I filled it with gas.AFter that, the car started having problems. The only thing I can think of is two things.
1. When I filled it up is raised sediment and somehow clogged something.
2. The excessive pressure in the tank is causing issues.
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From the title post above, you can see that I have multiple issues with the car, or just maybe one causing all the symptoms. The initial problem is this.When the car starts, it starts up fine and has normal power. After driving for a few minutes, the car starts exhibiting the following symptoms.
1. If I step on the gas pedal hard and hold it, it sounds as if the car is drowning, the car loses power, then may back fire, then instantly, it regains power and accelerates. This is by keeping the pedal down.
2. If I feather the pedal, it doesn't lose power and accelerates decently but as soon as I begin to go up hill, it bogs down and does the drowning noise again.
3. I created a video showing this issue for my friend who typically familiar with these things. Here is the link ; [URL] .... In the video, the car is idling fine but when I throttle it, it begins to drown, then just picks up right away for no apparent reason.
4. Just two days ago, the car will not start after it's been running for a while. If I let it sit, it starts up again.
-Could my catalytic converter be bad and therefore it somehow creates back pressure after the car warms up?
-Would it be a fuel injection problem? I put fuel injection cleaner in the tank and it seemed to run a little better.
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I replaced the crank shaft position sensor and it fixed everything. According to the Hanes Manual, the crank shaft position sensor is responsible for many things including timing etc. But one thing that caught my eye was that the car would run for a while, then stop completely and not run for a few hours or few days.
All seems good now. From the title post above, you can see that I have multiple issues with the car, or just maybe one causing all the symptoms.First, I am an American living in Norway and getting anything done around here costs an arm, a leg, and an extra pinky so I am going at this the maker way and trouble shooting my problems with the car.The initial problem is this.When the car starts, it starts up fine and has normal power. After driving for a few minutes, the car starts exhibiting the following symptoms.
1. If I step on the gas pedal hard and hold it, it sounds as if the car is drowning, the car loses power, then may back fire, then instantly, it regains power and accelerates. This is by keeping the pedal down.
2. If I feather the pedal, it doesn't lose power and accelerates decently but as soon as I begin to go up hill, it bogs down and does the drowning noise again.
3. I created a video showing this issue : [URL] .....
In the video, the car is idling fine but when I throttle it, it begins to drown, then just picks up right away for no apparent reason.4. Just two days ago, the car will not start after it's been running for a while. If I let it sit, it starts up again.
What it could be.
1. Could my catalytic converter be bad and therefore it somehow creates back pressure after the car warms up?
2. Would it be a fuel injection problem? I put fuel injection cleaner in the tank and it seemed to run a little better.
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Trying to figure out what the heck is going on with my 1996 Dodge Ram Van B2500. I purchased it a year ago, and for the past several months, its been acting up. Starts right up first start of the day. As day goes on, has difficulty starting, and stalls intermittently, also loses power with the gas pedal at higher speeds. It surges and big big backfires come out of the tail pipe.
This has gotten worse and worse, particularly the past 3 days. New computer put in it a few months ago, new battery, alternator, ignition coil, plugs, wires & distributor cap, oil filter, radiator and yesterday put in a new air filter, replaced both oxygen sensors AND the idle air control...alas, the same problems exist. Check engine light came on, but off today. Its so intermittent, and rarely GEN light would come on for a minute. Van would go for a couple weeks with no problems, but now its gotten real BAD! Fingers crossed I can make it to the auto parts store!
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I replaced the water pump and put a timing belt on it. I only have compression in two cylinders and it won't start. I followed the instructions for installing the timing belt from the book. I think they may be wrong. What I need to know is how exactly to set the crank and cam before I install the timing belt. Looking for step by step instructions on how to set the crank and cam and install the belt?
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Today, with the engine running, I looked around the engine to see if I could locate any gas leakage -- I located the fuel pressure regulator (I think; a golf-ball sized acorn on the right of the engine with a hose coming in the top and a pipe coming out the bottom and going down and to the left) and didn't see any leaking during my brief test. I'll check it again after my drive home tonight.
One new thing I did discover, though; while in park, when I slowly pressed on the accelerator, there would be a point where the engine started losing power and going into a rev/slowdown cycle: about a second or two of revving, then a half second of slowing down. This was while cold and in park; I've not experienced this in normal driving.
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I also noticed one time when I attempted to jump the car with the negative jumper cable attached to the engine block of the dead car or to the negative battery terminal of the dead car, the car would just click (as though attempting to turn over). However, when I connected the jumper cable to the exposed part of the dead car's negative battery cable (right next to the battery cable connector), it starts.
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What's happening? Should I take it into a tire shop, or regular mechanic?
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[URL] .... -- I turn the key twice here and let it chug. You can hear the noise at about the 2-second mark. I don't think I had any advance warning that anything was wrong, though I did have the car in the shop a few days ago to replace a water pump and timing belt.
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