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99 Dodge Neon - Sputtering - Code 43
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MikesNeon99
New User
Oct 31, 2012, 9:05 AM
Post #1 of 2
(2626 views)
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99 Dodge Neon - Sputtering - Code 43
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Hello, my name is Mike and I own a 1999 Dodge Neon SOHC 2.0l with 175k miles. I've been having some problems with it lately and today a more major problem happened. I think I know what's wrong but I wanted to run it by the people here who obviously know a lot more than me, heh.
Today the car started to sputter like crazy, it didn't want to accelerate and if it did it was very hard and chugging like crazy. When it happened the check engne light was flashing and after awhile it finally stalled and wouldn't start for a few minutes.
It will start up fine now and idle fine if you don't move the car but once you put it into Drive (Automatic) after a few feet it will sputter again on and off, mostly sputtering.
I checked the engine codes by turning the key and it said "12 - 43 - 43 - 43 - 55." My girlfriend took the car to the autostore and they ran the codes and told me it was Cylinder #4. I wasn't there unfortunately and I don't know which P code it actually said, which I know is a problem in helping to identify the cause, and it could have said Multiple and not just 4 if he read it wrong, but that is just speculation on my part.
Anyways, I checked the fuel pressure valve on the fuel rail, I think it's called the Schrader(?) valve. I let the car run for a few minutes and then pushed in the valve and a decent strength spray of fuel came out, about a foot long.
I then did another test and this time I drove the car until the sputtering happened then immediately turned the car off and did it again. This time fuel sprayed out for about half a second and then nothing. I was thinking that the Fuel Pump is bad.
As far as what I did:
I changed the Spark Plugs with some NGK ones.
I put some HEET in the gas tank because the Fuel Filler Neck must have a hole in it because when I fill-up gas leaks out of the Neck. I'm thinking with all the rain lately that water might have gotten in and destroyed the Pump/Assembly, does that sound plausible/possible?
I was trying to get to a junkyard and replace the Neck when I noticed the leak a few days ago but couldn't get their quick enough apparently.
My apologies for a long post and I thank all in advance for any help/guidance you may have.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 31, 2012, 4:44 PM
Post #2 of 2
(2568 views)
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Re: 99 Dodge Neon - Sputtering - Code 43
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From your description is sounds like it is misfiring in one or more cylinder(s).
You should get the code(s) read by a scanner again and write them down. Usually a single cylinder misfire isn't caused by a fuel pressure problem. A fuel pressure problem would affect all cylinders.
You can isolate which cylinder is the problem when the engine is misfiring, by unplugging each injector one at a time. The cylinder that doesn't cause a difference in the running of the engine is the culprit. From there you have to determine if the misfire is being caused by an ignition problem, fuel injector problem, mechanical problem, or possible intake runner vacuum leak.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Oct 31, 2012, 4:49 PM)
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