Any Car Mechanics Here?

[Creamo]

Is there anyone here that actually works for a living on cars? Like at a dealership, or a liscenced shop? I know HBlair has a Body Shop, but my questions are engine specific.

Not that I couldn't get some good advise from talented shade tree mechanics for what I need to know, but I would like to see if there are some mechanics employed in a shop that might see this stuff everyday and offer some advise.

[Scrap]

What's the question?

[Creamo]

A 96 Neon DOHC. Just bought it for little or nothing because the kid didn’t think it could pass smog. I see his point. It runs ruff, but not so much I’d think the engine is shot at 98K. It puts out white stinky smoke, and a lot. I did do the engine codes, got a MAP sensor low voltage, and a #4 injector low voltage.

I Ohmed out the injectors, all at 12, so maybe they are good, although that doesn’t say they are all working. I went to pull the MAP sensor, and it was missing a bolt. When I pulled the MAP sensor, I saw my reflection in the intake manifold. Scary enough as that was, I composed myself and wondered why oil was there. I think the valve cover is leaking, but enough to transfer that much oil in the Map sensor hole where the bolt was missing? Dunno.

What would put oil in the intake manifold?

[RightF00T]

Have you searched any Neon forums?  I find when I have car trouble(Saab 900) most problems other people have already had and thus you can look up what they did to fix or what the root problem was.

http://www.car-forums.com/talk/index.php?

Also I'm sure there are Neon-specific forums out there they just may be hard to find.

[Steve]

A 96 Neon DOHC.

There is no solution to this  problem.

[Creamo]

Thanks Steve.

Lol, expected, and mindless, but I still find the O'Club funny for that reason.

[Steve]

Geez Creamo, bring your sense of humor next time, if you can find it.

[Roscoroo]

head gasket or cracked head ...  sniff the radiator for hydrocarbons   , compression test may tell .. but not always .. that cylinders spark plug shoud be really clean also.  


thats the normal cause of white smoke

[RedTop]

Originally posted by Creamo
Is there anyone here that actually works for a living on cars? Like at a dealership, or a liscenced shop? I know HBlair has a Body Shop, but my questions are engine specific.

Not that I couldn't get some good advise from talented shade tree mechanics for what I need to know, but I would like to see if there are some mechanics employed in a shop that might see this stuff everyday and offer some advise.

Tatertot who flies for the Rooks is a certified Mechanic.

[Creamo]

Steve, I can't get any more sappy or light hearted. I said I was laughing at your post. Maybe I need a few more !!!!!!!'s? No.

Rosc, I'm thinking headgasket. I pulled all the plugs, #1 was carbon fouled, #4 looked like #2 and #3 so the computer readout on #4 makes no sense to me.

Like I said, this would be a good thread for a real car mechanic that sees this stuff everyday, but I appreciate your input Rosc. It's going into the shop in a few days so we shall see. Just wanted to see if anyone that deals with this day in and day out would know what was up. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Raubvogel]

That year Neon is known for faulty head gaskets. Dodge even replaced them under recall. My wife had a 95 that we had to have done twice before 60k miles.  I'd start there.

[Steve]

Sorry Creamo, I misunderstood, please accept my apology.  Hope you find your problem.. blown head gasket... oh wait   it's been well covered.

[john9001]

stinky white smoke =antifreez

[Creamo]

That I could deal with john if it doesn't mean an engine overhaul. Looking for a $800 or less fix bill, which would make it a good buy considering. It has airbags and no power, something a first time driver crazy asian can handle! Not that a GTP is a rocket, but not something I want to turn over to the wife. After driving the Neon around the parking lot a bit, I garnered some respect for my car. Holy watermelon there is a diffrence. She don't need to be roaming with a supercharger. Its not noticable unless you drive the 4 cylinder love machine. Yikes.

[stantond]

A blown (or leaking) head gasket is about all I can think of that would put oil in the intake manifold.   As far as a worn out engine at 98k is concerned, I have been very impressed with SAE engine oils since the early 90's.   Any mid 90's engine (with proper oil changes) should last to 200k miles.   I have a '92 GMC truck with 250k miles and its still going strong.

A blown head gasket would also explain the stinky white smoke.  That's antifreeze mixed with oil going into the intake manifold.  Check the coolant level to make sure.  If you can check the engine codes and pull a spark plug, you can change a head gasket.  

A garage will charge you $600.00 for a $40.00 gasket + 10 hours of labor.  Granted, they can probably change the gasket in 6 hours, but there is overhead in the shop.  Buy a Haynes manual for $15.00 and change the gasket yourself.  It's not that tough, but you need a torque wrench and a manual.



Regards,

Malta

p.s. If you do change the gasket yourself, take some digital photos of the engine before and during disassembly.