non-ford problem, but need help
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Senior User
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From: Chicagoland
non-ford problem, but need help
my wife's 1995 Plymouth Neon won't start. It turns over fine, and seems to have spark. I'm guessing that it's the fuel pump, but I'm not sure. Does anyone know how to read the EEC-IV diagnostic flashes from the CEL? I know how to do it for Fords, but I'm not sure that it's the same for a Mopar.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Post Fiend
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From: Connecticut
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Charlotte, NC
do you hear any whirr from the pump itself? my stepsis had a 97, it had a starting problem, turned out that the guy that put the plugs on it last time left it so the intake was rubbing against the wires and wore a hole in it and it wasn't sparking right.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Texas
I assume it is fuel injected. To test for fuel, turn off the car and find the shrader valve on the fuel rail. Depress the core and relieve the pressure. Roll the engine over a few times and recheck the feul rail. If fuel sprays out, you have pressure. Then you can diagnos the injectors from that point.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Atlanta GA
> seems to have spark
It either has 20Kv+ or not. There are too many electronic components on newer cars to just guess, otherwise you throw your money away.
> I'm guessing that it's the fuel pump, but I'm not sure.
Why not guess something easy and less expensive first such as a fuel filter or relay. Two weeks ago I did a 88 Cherokee that would not start and after changing all the relays (swapped - I keep five extra for testing purposes) I did the fuel filter. Bingo.
Hardly anyone changes the fuel filter and then when the car pings, runs rough, or simply will not start they wonder why when the car has 150k on it. That would be the least expensive guess.
It might be a fuel pressure regulator, you just can not tell except starting from the top of a test routine and working your way down. Try a Haynes manual, they are pretty good and it came in handy when I was fixing a Neon. Well worth the $15.
Try www.allpar.com
I found some good advice for a 1990 Plymouth Acclaim I am trying to get running. It actually appears to be the fuel pump, but, I have to drop the tank to disconnect the harness to find out <sigh>.
It either has 20Kv+ or not. There are too many electronic components on newer cars to just guess, otherwise you throw your money away.
> I'm guessing that it's the fuel pump, but I'm not sure.
Why not guess something easy and less expensive first such as a fuel filter or relay. Two weeks ago I did a 88 Cherokee that would not start and after changing all the relays (swapped - I keep five extra for testing purposes) I did the fuel filter. Bingo.
Hardly anyone changes the fuel filter and then when the car pings, runs rough, or simply will not start they wonder why when the car has 150k on it. That would be the least expensive guess.
It might be a fuel pressure regulator, you just can not tell except starting from the top of a test routine and working your way down. Try a Haynes manual, they are pretty good and it came in handy when I was fixing a Neon. Well worth the $15.
Try www.allpar.com
I found some good advice for a 1990 Plymouth Acclaim I am trying to get running. It actually appears to be the fuel pump, but, I have to drop the tank to disconnect the harness to find out <sigh>.
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From: Chicagoland
I did some preliminary tests in the middle of a used car lot in the freezing rain. It SEEMS like there is enough spark because I pulled off a plug and let it arc while I had my wife turn over the car. I have a fuel pressure gauge, but haven't had the time to test the pressure yet. I'm guessing it's the fuel pump because it won't run when the key is first turned to the ON position.
Al I needed was the EEC-IV code pulling procedure. Not smart-alec responses.
Al I needed was the EEC-IV code pulling procedure. Not smart-alec responses.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Atlanta GA
> Al I needed was the EEC-IV code pulling procedure.
> Not smart-alec responses.
I was trying to help you, nothing more. If you had bothered to visit the allpar.com site that would have been clear, if you had done a search on fuel pumps you would have found pulling a code for that problem will do nothing.
If you replaced the pump first, you most likely wasted your money. Especially since if you try to start the car three times in a row or have extensive cranking, the relay shuts down, and sometimes you have to disconnect the battery/and or pour gas into the throttle to restart it.
But, since you wanted a smart-alec response ...
You can't pull EEC-IV codes, because if you bothered to look under the hood you would most likely see it did not have a Ford engine and instead you would see it had either a SMEC or SBEC system like most 1990-1995 CH/Dodge/Plymouths.
You are now on my ignore list so I do not bother you again,
so have a nice day!
> Not smart-alec responses.
I was trying to help you, nothing more. If you had bothered to visit the allpar.com site that would have been clear, if you had done a search on fuel pumps you would have found pulling a code for that problem will do nothing.
If you replaced the pump first, you most likely wasted your money. Especially since if you try to start the car three times in a row or have extensive cranking, the relay shuts down, and sometimes you have to disconnect the battery/and or pour gas into the throttle to restart it.
But, since you wanted a smart-alec response ...
You can't pull EEC-IV codes, because if you bothered to look under the hood you would most likely see it did not have a Ford engine and instead you would see it had either a SMEC or SBEC system like most 1990-1995 CH/Dodge/Plymouths.
You are now on my ignore list so I do not bother you again,
so have a nice day!
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Emlenton, PA
I had a Neon as a work beater and the pump went out on it. I've heard fuel pumps can be troublesome on the little Mopar 4 bangers. I would try a new fuel filter first though. I don't think anyone was being smart-alec. Just saying that fuel filters are probably the most over-looked/easily solved problem most folks encounter.
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Colorado
Originally Posted by silvapain
Al I needed was the EEC-IV code pulling procedure. Not smart-alec responses.
Well it's a neon what did you expect?
Ive seen a few different thigs cause no starts on neons. Even OBD2 C-P-D cars and trucks will flash codes with the key cycle trick. I reccomend you test all 4 terminals for spark, also Neons tend to have oil leak problems around the spark plug holes and will fill up the holes with oil casuing no spark to reach the plug. Ive also seen a few ECM's burn out too especially on the early models. get the fuel pressure checked and let us know what you find.
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