The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
I hate my car.
Comahawk
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, car trouble, in winter... Fun.
Anyways, my beautiful '95 Neon is experiencing some very interesting new problems lately. On Monday, my car started very rough and stalled for some odd reason, however, upon restarting it the car ran smoothly and I didn't experience another problem until tonight. My car started a bit rough, but not too bad, I just assumed the weather was making it a little hard for it to turn over (even though it's only -16C), but then the whole way home, the car ran like shit, it stalled out a couple times, had to put it into neutral to make it around corners half the time and while holding a constant speed of 100km/h, the car seemed to stutter and 'chug'.
Well, I got home, ran the car on low revs in an attempt to make it stall and it only hinted at doing it once. Now, the car has stalled before, due to the water pump finding its way through the timing belt housing, however this time it seems to be holding a full reservoir of antifreeze (which I bought a premix of, rated for -37c) though I have noticed a small amount seems to have leaked, but nowhere near the amount that did when the pump went.
So, naturally I assumed it was condensation in the gas line/tank and have been adding gas line antifreeze with every weekly fill up. This does not seem to be solving the problem and I'm pretty annoyed/confused at this. Any ideas? Though I'm getting pretty decent at restarting after a stall, i'd rather not have to continue doing this.
Anyways, my beautiful '95 Neon is experiencing some very interesting new problems lately. On Monday, my car started very rough and stalled for some odd reason, however, upon restarting it the car ran smoothly and I didn't experience another problem until tonight. My car started a bit rough, but not too bad, I just assumed the weather was making it a little hard for it to turn over (even though it's only -16C), but then the whole way home, the car ran like shit, it stalled out a couple times, had to put it into neutral to make it around corners half the time and while holding a constant speed of 100km/h, the car seemed to stutter and 'chug'.
Well, I got home, ran the car on low revs in an attempt to make it stall and it only hinted at doing it once. Now, the car has stalled before, due to the water pump finding its way through the timing belt housing, however this time it seems to be holding a full reservoir of antifreeze (which I bought a premix of, rated for -37c) though I have noticed a small amount seems to have leaked, but nowhere near the amount that did when the pump went.
So, naturally I assumed it was condensation in the gas line/tank and have been adding gas line antifreeze with every weekly fill up. This does not seem to be solving the problem and I'm pretty annoyed/confused at this. Any ideas? Though I'm getting pretty decent at restarting after a stall, i'd rather not have to continue doing this.
Comahawk on
0
Posts
Shogun Streams Vidya
Nope, however it doesn't seem to be an electrical issue. Console lights were fine and only dimmed on complete stall, but then returned to normal brightness.
My 90 Civic used to do this kind of thing. It would stall out going around turns. It was described to me as the engine basically shaking itself to death. They're a fairly cheap fix.
I would say that or motor mounts.
But, since you say that it stalled when revving it sitting still, I'd guess fuel filter, or maybe something is clogged in the line. I'd try some of that fuel line crap you pour into the gas tank and cleans your fuel lines.
Okay, appears to be my battery/alternator.
Car will not start this morning, it only made a rapid clicking noise which I'm told is a dead battery sound.
My dad figures it is either the alternator or the battery. Going to buy a new battery tomorrow... However if it is the alt I'm back to square one in a couple of days. Is there another way to figure out if it is the alternator?
If you have a digital multimeter yes.
DC voltage on the battery should be 11-12.5V while the vehicle is off, and around 13-14 volts while the vehicle is running. I believe some autoparts stores will also test your battery/alternator for free.
Shogun Streams Vidya
If you're in Canada, most Canadian Tires and Walmarts (maybe Walmart in the US too), will test your battery for you for free. Lug it in to them and they'll hook it up for testing... if the battery is good, your alternator is the problem.
I'm not sure about this. My car is a stock Integra and I have an aftermarket stereo, speakers, subwoofers, and amplifier yet the only problem I've had is my battery died. It died in '07 and was made in '03 so it was a typical life for a battery. I also have high intensity discharge headlights installed. I've never heard of aftermarket stereo stuff wearing out an alternator, but I guess I could see it if you had a ton of amps and subs and stuff.
Shogun Streams Vidya
I have blown out stock speakers with the cheapest piece of shit stereo deck possible. So that isn't a worry.
Tomorrow I'm going to test it all out, dad said we will jump it, if it starts it has something to do with the battery/alternator. If not he is worried the sound it made might be the solenoid on the starter. Either way, thanks for all the help, hopefully I can get the car running as I don't want to leech rides off coworkers for too long :P
The problem with getting the alternator tested is getting the damn thing out. The websites I read said it shouldn't take more than an hour, but I doubt that simply based on the location of the damn thing. However, I'm pretty certain we have a multimeter laying around... Upon thinking about it though, that battery is at least five years old, so I am starting to figure that is the issue.