1995 Dodge Neon Help!!!

[The Cuda Guy]

Im working on my mother-inlaws Neon, the problem is that its over heating and I put a new thermostae in it and its still over heating?  I looked but couldnt find what I thought to be a water pump?  Is there anyone out there who can help me pin point the problem???  The engine is a 2.0 single over head cam.

Thanks

Cuda Guy

[Burpin Chunks]

Dodge around that time started running the water pump off of the Timing belt. I havnt worked on a neon but I have worked on a breeze with the same motor. It has been awhile but I believe it was the 2.0. But before you go threw all that trouble check for a blown head gasket. Pull the dipstick and see if the oil on the stick is milky. If so you have a blown head gasket. Another sign would be if you have water "boiling" back in the over flow bottle even when the motor is cold. Its not really boiling but bubbling back. Sometimes you can just hear it doing it. Start the car run it for a minute and turn the car off. You will hear the bubbles. Also make sure you didnt install the thermastat backwards.   hope it is as simple as that but prolly not. good luck.

[The Cuda Guy]

Thanks Burpin!

I got online and read my mind numb trying to figure this thing out and it is as you suspected the head gasket!  Im going to call around to some of these places and see what they will charge.  We got one quot for $600 but we will see if I can find a better deal.  Thanks again.

Cuda Guy

[BIG MIKE]

is that the labor to pull off and install, or with the machine shop price too.. it don't take much heat to warp them...

i seems like the first design of there head gaskets had problems, but all the ones i've seen leaked oil out the rear drivers side.

[Burpin Chunks]

I normally do my own work but if you get a mechanic to do it for you be sure he/she does some preventive maintenance. As in replacing the timing belt while the car is torn down. Some people even replace the water pump while you have it apart as well. To give you something to base it from when I did the Head on the Breeze it cost me just over 300 dollars in parts alone. Again that is with replacing all the belts and what-nots.

The thing to watch out for is oil leaks. If the car got hot enough it could have burnt the rear main seal and you will have a huge oil leak. Which is another job in its self.

Good luck and dont get screwed. Request to inspect the vehicle just before they put it back together to make sure they put in a new water pump and timing belt (recommended). I am paranoid when it comes to mechanics, for some reason they all seem to be crooks.  

[The Cuda Guy]

I know what you mean about the mechanics being crooks!  When I was in Iraq our oil light came on in our 1998 Cirrus and they told my wife that the engine was blowed up and it would be 3000k for a new one!  I had her Uncle look at the car and all it turned out to be was the oil sending unit!  But her and her Mom was still convinced that the engine was blowed up!  So that was just more to add to the hassel!

Cuda Guy

[Ravage]

I've known mechanics to quit just because they didn't like that they were supposed to be such a rat.It's a shame that someone whith skilled hands has to leave the field because their boss is a prick.

Good luck with that neon ,my cousin had one that started rusting after 2 years and they replaced the head 3 times before they got one that didn't have a crack.

[The Cuda Guy]

What is the best way to tell if the head is going to need replaced?  

I guess now the heater has stoped working and its my fault becasue I was the last one to touch the car LMAO!!!  But the truth is that it just needs to be put into the shop to be fixed.  Thanks for all the help if anyone has any idea about the head replacement please let me know.

Cuda Guy

[BIG MIKE]

used a straight edge to see if  it is warped(the standard for alum. is .002-.003)try to stick a feeler gauge,and clean and look for cracks.


have a good machine shop check for cracks...they can even fix some.

[Burpin Chunks]

The machine shop is the best way to do so. They will seal the head and put it under pressure, then put the entire head under water and watch for the bubbles. Much like a tire. Also the machine shop will check to see if the head is warped and mill the head to make the surface flat again. This is how it is suppost to be done. Most machanics will have a machine shop they use already. It cost me 35 dollars to have the head checked for cracks and to have the head milled. That is with me taking the head to the machine shop. A mechanic should not do a mark up on this service that someone else does but again I DONT LIKE MECHANICS. sometimes not even my burpin chunks self.

[The Cuda Guy]

Thanks for all the advice!

Cuda Guy

[BIG MIKE]

I DONT LIKE MECHANICS

Burpin Chunks,

well I'm a mechanic(ASE cert.), you have to understand that not all mechanics are like you described.. i / our shop don't mark up parts, or other work, no shop supply fee.. we only make money off our labor....



and yes the machine shop is the best place to check the head but the first part of my post was a check so you have an idea what will be needed to get the head ready.

[Burpin Chunks]

Big Mike, we are mopar heads and there for intellegent  . I know there are honest good mechanics out there. no offence intended. Like anything else the bad ones make it bad for everyone. Mike keep up the good work and if you move to Texas you can work on my cars.  

but not my cuda, my cuda is like my woman, you can look but you cant touch.