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Dodge neon power issues, possible battery


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kingjim9
User

May 22, 2012, 9:45 AM

Post #1 of 6 (4170 views)
Dodge neon power issues, possible battery Sign In

On a 2000 dodge neon, 4 cyl, 2.0 L:

I went to start it and nothing, the dash lights come on but will go out if I depress the brake petal, I can barely hear the fuel pump and no cranks from the starter.

The battery is about 2 years 3 months old and when load tested last month still put out 650 CCA.

It started fine this morning and went fine for an hour, parked it 4 hours and then the issue. Unfortunately I'm at work so don't have access to all my test meters either.

Is it possible it's the battery, and it got that drained so quickly it won't even let the starter make a noise? Could I check anything else?

Any help is appreciated! Thanks

Jim


kingjim9
User

May 22, 2012, 10:06 AM

Post #2 of 6 (4161 views)
Re: Dodge neon power issues, possible battery Sign In

just to add a little bit, I check the alternator last month too with the battery, it was putting out 13.6 volts.

Probably about 3 months ago, I replaced the negative battery cable completely, as well as the positive terminal. Both of the previous cables were pretty cracked from age (this occured as a result of me cleaning the posts)

as of today both posts are snug and secure, with no corrossion. I was looking online and was wondering if there are any relays or such it could be. I hate being stuck in a place without any tools to try to narrow in on the problem. Why couldn't this just happen at home?

I'm open to any suggestions you might have to try, or else I'll probably just get her towed home and see what happens!

Based on the way the dash lights go out when the brake petal gets depressed leads me to think I have some other issues besides just a dead battery. Thoughts?


(This post was edited by kingjim9 on May 22, 2012, 10:11 AM)


kingjim9
User

May 22, 2012, 11:35 AM

Post #3 of 6 (4137 views)
Re: Dodge neon power issues, possible battery Sign In

Another update: The right headlight on the vehicle works fine, but the left doesn't light up at all. Both headlights were working fine last night and they are both relatively new (Maybe bought in November-2011?)

Does anyone have access to wiring diagrams who could see if theres a common fuse between ignition features and the left headlight? I'm going to try searching online as well.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

May 22, 2012, 11:51 AM

Post #4 of 6 (4132 views)
Re: Dodge neon power issues, possible battery Sign In

You've got a dead battery. Have it charged and then tested.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



kingjim9
User

May 22, 2012, 5:58 PM

Post #5 of 6 (4107 views)
Re: Dodge neon power issues, possible battery Sign In

Yeah you hit the nail real good Hammer! It wasn't actually the battery, but rather a faulty connection. Same concept though no power = no start.

The positive cable has an aftermarket terminal on it, one of those ones where you can insert wires through and it clamps down on it. Instead of wires going through it, there's a piece of metal which bridges the battery cable, and the positive wire to the fuse box. Well inside that clamp, all that metal was really corroded and stopped all my juice from going anywhere.

I sanded it off real good and got it going good enough to get home. I'm going to just be replacing the cable though as my permanent solution as I don't think the cables are long enough to permit splicing directly to the terminal.

Thanks for the help though! and getting the diagnosis correct from what you had! Cool I wasn't suspecting the battery / power source at first only cause I do frequently check it, and I had full headlights, horn, radio, etc, but they flickered out from time to time with what seemed to be turning the key, although it turned out flickering on / off was just random.Pirate


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

May 22, 2012, 6:17 PM

Post #6 of 6 (4098 views)
Re: Dodge neon power issues, possible battery Sign In

Yep, testing the battery would have exposed that. Glad to hear you found it.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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