Engine Controls - Trouble Shooting - No Codes - Except Coupe: Other Dodge Neon II

ENGINE DOES NOT CRANK

If engine does not crank, check starter circuits. See appropriate STARTERS article in STARTING & CHARGING SYSTEMS.

ENGINE DOES NOT START

If engine cranks but does not start or engine does not start and scan tool displays no response, perform appropriate test. See NO-START DIAGNOSIS in appropriate BASIC DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES article.

HARD START

Check listed items as follows

1. Check fuel pressure. See CHECKING FUEL DELIVERY under FUEL SYSTEMS in appropriate BASIC DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES article.
2. Check engine coolant temperature sensor. See ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
3. Check throttle position sensor. See THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
4. Check manifold absolute pressure sensor. See MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
5. Check idle air control motor operation. See IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR under IDLE CONTROL SYSTEMS in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
6. Check EGR system. perform appropriate EGR related diagnostic test. See DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE DEFINITIONS in appropriate SELF-DIAGNOSTICS article.
7. Check inlet air temperature sensor. See INLET AIR TEMPERATURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.

STARTS & STALLS

Check listed items as follows

1. Check powertrain control module power and ground circuits. See POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE under COMPUTERIZED ENGINE CONTROLS in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
2. Check fuel pressure. See CHECKING FUEL DELIVERY under FUEL SYSTEMS in appropriate BASIC DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES article.
3. Check engine coolant temperature sensor. See ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
4. Check throttle position sensor. See THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
5. Check manifold absolute pressure sensor. See MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
6. Check idle air control motor operation. See IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR under IDLE CONTROL SYSTEMS in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.

HESITATION/STUMBLE

Check listed items as follows

1. Check powertrain control module power and ground circuits. See POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE under COMPUTERIZED ENGINE CONTROLS in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
2. Check fuel pressure. See CHECKING FUEL DELIVERY under FUEL SYSTEMS in appropriate BASIC DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES article.
3. Check engine coolant temperature sensor. See ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
4. Check throttle position sensor. See THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
5. Check manifold absolute pressure sensor. See MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.

SURGE

Check listed items as follows

1. Check idle air control motor operation. See IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR under IDLE CONTROL SYSTEMS in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
2. Check inlet air temperature sensor. See INLET AIR TEMPERATURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
3. Check powertrain control module power and ground circuits. See POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE under COMPUTERIZED ENGINE CONTROLS in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
4. Check fuel pressure. See CHECKING FUEL DELIVERY under FUEL SYSTEMS in appropriate BASIC DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES article.
5. Check engine coolant temperature sensor. See ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
6. Check throttle position sensor. See THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
7. Check manifold absolute pressure sensor. See MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.

LACK OF POWER/SLUGGISH

Check listed items as follows

1. Check powertrain control module power and ground circuits. See POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE under COMPUTERIZED ENGINE CONTROLS in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
2. Check fuel pressure. See CHECKING FUEL DELIVERY under FUEL SYSTEMS in appropriate BASIC DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES article.
3. Check engine coolant temperature sensor. See ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
4. Check throttle position sensor. See THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
5. Check manifold absolute pressure sensor. See MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
6. Check idle air control motor operation. See IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR under IDLE CONTROL SYSTEMS in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.

SPARK KNOCK/DETONATION

Check listed items as follows

1. Check powertrain control module power and ground circuits. See POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE under COMPUTERIZED ENGINE CONTROLS in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
2. Check fuel pressure. See CHECKING FUEL DELIVERY under FUEL SYSTEMS in appropriate BASIC DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES article.
3. Check engine coolant temperature sensor. See ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
4. Check throttle position sensor. See THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
5. Check manifold absolute pressure sensor. See MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
6. Check idle air control motor operation. See IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR under IDLE CONTROL SYSTEMS in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.

CUTS OUT/MISSES

Check listed items as follows

1. Check powertrain control module power and ground circuits. See POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE under COMPUTERIZED ENGINE CONTROLS in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
2. Check fuel pressure. See CHECKING FUEL DELIVERY under FUEL SYSTEMS in appropriate BASIC DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES article.
3. Check idle air control motor operation. See IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR under IDLE CONTROL SYSTEMS in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.

BACKFIRE

Check listed items as follows

1. Check powertrain control module power and ground circuits. See POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE under COMPUTERIZED ENGINE CONTROLS in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
2. Check fuel pressure. See CHECKING FUEL DELIVERY under FUEL SYSTEMS in appropriate BASIC DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES article.
3. Check manifold absolute pressure sensor. See MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.

RUNS ROUGH/UNSTABLE, ERRATIC IDLE

Check listed items as follows

1. Check powertrain control module power and ground circuits. See POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE under COMPUTERIZED ENGINE CONTROLS in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
2. Check fuel pressure. See CHECKING FUEL DELIVERY under FUEL SYSTEMS in appropriate BASIC DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES article.
3. Check engine coolant temperature sensor. See ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
4. Check throttle position sensor. See THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
5. Check manifold absolute pressure sensor. See MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
6. Check idle air control motor operation. See IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR under IDLE CONTROL SYSTEMS in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
7. Check inlet air temperature sensor. See INLET AIR TEMPERATURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.

POOR FUEL ECONOMY

Check listed items as follows

1. Check powertrain control module power and ground circuits. See POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE under COMPUTERIZED ENGINE CONTROLS in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
2. Check fuel pressure. See CHECKING FUEL DELIVERY under FUEL SYSTEMS in appropriate BASIC DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES article.
3. Check engine coolant temperature sensor. See ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
4. Check throttle position sensor. See THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
5. Check manifold absolute pressure sensor. See MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
6. Check idle air control motor operation. See IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR under IDLE CONTROL SYSTEMS in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.
7. Check inlet air temperature sensor. See INLET AIR TEMPERATURE SENSOR under ENGINE SENSORS & SWITCHES in appropriate SYSTEM & COMPONENT TESTING article.

Intermittent Simulation

To reproduce the conditions creating an intermittent fault, use the following methods

1. Lightly vibrate component.
2. Heat component.
3. Wiggle or bend wiring harness.
4. Spray component with water.
5. Remove/apply vacuum source.

Monitor circuit/component voltage or resistance while simulating intermittent. If engine is running, monitor for DTCs. Use test results to identify a faulty component or circuit.