100,000+ miles on NEON

[mopartodd]

I'm just curious. Who has any experience with a Neon over 100,000 miles. How did the timing belts hold up, and the cars in general. I've got 82,000+ on mine now and I'm planning on replacing it, or my Dakota, at the end of the year and need some feedback on the reliablity of this little car.

------------------
69 Coronet 440
96 Neon SOHC
94 Dakota Sport

[J-BODY]

The only timing belts I have seen fail were ones that the water pump went away. We generally recommend replacing at the 80k mark and the ones I have replaced were in surprisingly good shape. Lots stronger than the old 2.2 belt thats for sure. If they didn't have the black eye from the head gasket oil leak prob, this little engine would rank very high in durability.

[mopartodd]

Guess I've been lucky then. I currently have a 96 SOHC and haven't had the head gasket problem. I'm always on the lookout though. I've got the shop manual for this car, and they recommend changing the timing belt at 100,000. I'm trying to decide whether to keep this car or get a new one. I think I'm going to live with it.

[achord]

I have a [1994] Neon with 108,000 miles. At 106,000 the car overheated secondary to a water pump failure and subsequent head gasket decomposition. So, $1200 later (new head gasket, water pump, engine timing belt, oil change and labor), my car is still alive.

This all started months before the overheat when I noticed a gurgling (death gurgle?) sound coming from the coolant reservoir every time after turning off the car. As I learned later, this was indicative of greater trouble...so if you hear the same noises, have your car serviced before your head gasket melts.

[J-BODY]

That "gurgle" at engine shutoff is usually a sign of a radiator cap that is not holding pressure. Be sure to test your cap at least once a year.

[rb77413]

I probably shouldn't post this but you asked for it. My wife owns(ed) a 1996 ACR Neon Coupe DOHC (just in case). 117,000 miles, No Headgasket problem, No Clutch problems, No CV problems, No Oil leak problems, No Timing Belt problems, and no other major problems except the engine just blew up Friday while I was on my way to school/work. Her friend's wife's neon just blew the head gasket and one other person she know blew up thier neon as well. She took extremely good care of her neon mechanically and it did her no good. BTW we think a gear for the timing belt stripped but she doesn't even want to know. She is now trying to sell ger car plus the parts shelf for it. She is now going back to V8 RWD ie her 73 Duster and her hope of buying a Dakota R/T.

[neonrich]

I just recently turned 111k. Recommended mileage for a new timing belt is 102k, per the manual. That's when I had it done, also replaced the water pump and t-stat at the same time as a preventative. My head gasket died at just under 80,000 miles. Of course the stock brake pads lasted 87k, and the stock wires lasted 90k. Somewhere in there I needed an O2 sensor as well.

But overall, it's been a great little car.

------------------
Rich
1995 Plymouth Highline Coupe
http://richweb.allpar.net/
http://awc.comercis.net/neonrich

[mopartodd]

Rich. Did you do the work yourself, or have it done by a shop? Was it a difficult job? How much were you charged? I looked at the manual and it doesn't appear to be to tough a job. The water pump change is a good idea.

------------------
69 Coronet 440
96 Neon SOHC
94 Dakota Sport

[95neongirl]

PLZ change the timing belt...don't wait until it breaks!

[rovii77]

my 97 has 105k on it and is still running fine, when the "head gasket" started leaking on mine I had the timing belt and such replaced too (87k). then a week later I had the cam position sensor replaced when it was still leaking. since then no leaks and no other problems

[95neongirl]

I'd advise everyome..espciall with the older model neons to get theat cam position sensor changed..my car responds better since i replaced mine!

[Stoga]

Still have my old 96 Breeze-SOHC 2.0, should turn over 140,000 miles tomorrow. I ran and hammered the heck out of it from 1996 to 2000, use it more for just trips by myself and close to town these days. Still runs fine, its just too hard to put up with 3 teen or near-teen kids packed inside with me. On it's 3rd set of plugs, and I put a set of wires on it. It got the headgasket change at 67K, but is leaking a little bit now again, but not badly. I just keep an eye on the oil, and sometimes top it off a bit right before the oil change. I did destroy the original 5 speed transaxle at 77K miles, but the replacement is still going strong. I have been a little easier on this one though. Whenever the original engine croaks, I figure to do some upgrades, but so far, still hums along doing it's job, giving me more time to fiddle with my 68 Imperials and other yard ornaments. I figure to change the timing belt again and original water pump and hoses sometime next summer.

[CSX-T #671]

At 86,000 miles,the water pump locked up on my wifes 95 sohc.Broke the timing belt and we all know what happens when that happens.Needless to say it proudly sports a 160 HP sohc IT motor.

[MPP1]

Got 85,000 on my 98 without head gasket or timing belt problems. If I don't get an SRT-4 this summer, I plan on removing the head and changing the cam (Mopar Performance), belt, and head gasket. Car still run's in the high 14's!

[mopartodd]

Wow. I can't beleive this thread is still going. Just to give an update on the car that started the thread. Oil appeared at the back of head at 95K so I replaced the gasket and had the guide seals replaced. Car ran like a champ, but in july 2002 a tornado came through and pelted the car with hail. It looked like a red golfball. Insurance company totalled it Traded it in on a untitled 2001 last August.

[leo12]

Hey gang

I have 390,950 KM's on my 1995 Neon or about 245,000 miles

Exhaust is original
Changed clutch at 387,000km
Replaced fuel tank and pump at 380,000km
Computer replaced at 350,000km picked up a used one for a 100 bucks.

other that that the car is original, other than wear and tear stuff tire's and brakes etc

Oil is changed every 5000kms


Head gasket was done at 95000km under warrenty

This has been a cool car for me, and is still a daily driver about 200kms a day

Cheers

Leo

[RU Neon]

i have a 97 SOHC, 120,000k. I replaced the head gasket and timing belt just for preventive maintenance. the ONLY things that have gone bad so far are the Battery and EGR Valve. I honestly can say I have had no reliability issues with my neon.........good little car.