1997 Chrysler Neon LX from UK and Ireland - Comments

A/C topped up in summer 2003 at a cost of £100 at a Chrysler dealer. It has since packed-up again.

This is linked to the cooling problem I have experienced (75,000 miles). Gurgling sound after shut-off has been heard since 2001 but caused no real alarm. A couple of weeks ago - Spring 2005 - the cooling fans started switching on and off repeated every 5 seconds. The A/C failed to work and fuel consumption dropped. I checked the radiator thermostat initially, but finally found the fault lay with the temperature sender switch (located on the A/C compressor) or nearby components. I have since disconnected the switch and the car runs better than it has for a few years! Yes, the A/C is now disabled, but since it was faulty anyway; would be expensive to fix and the nearest Chrysler garage is some 25 miles away, I'll live without it.

I service the car myself every 7,500 miles (replacing the oil - 5w/40 synthetic (Halfords), oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, as well as a thorough check on everything else) which is more convenient and far cheaper than taking it to a garage and as such, I find the maintenance fairly reasonable pricewise.

Unlike many other Neon owners, I have yet to suffer any expensive head gasket problems. In fact, I'm still on the original brake discs, pads and exhaust and have not found the need to change the brake, automatic or power steering fluids yet. I check all of these things regularly, keep the car clean and don't abuse it on the road and I guess it's paid off.

I had to replace the rear seatbelts to accommodate a babyseat and that cost me a hefty £160 from my local(!!) Chrysler dealer, so you can see why I tend to do the work myself if possible.

The car is quite robust and I have found the build quality to be OK for the money. It has a few rattles that can be heard from the cabin. It's no luxury car, but it's comfortable enough and pleasant to drive. The engine is nippy though a bit rough, fuel consumption is quite high and combined with the small tank, makes for frequent fill-ups.

I was considering selling it when the cooling problems started, but now I appear to have solved that problem, I'm likely to hang on to it until it falls apart: After all, the cost of replacing the exhaust, head gasket and cam belt (which I will do at 100,000 miles - not 60,000 as Chrysler state) will far exceed the value of the car!

I would like to own another one day, but the lack of dealers / garages and the stories I hear about delays in parts arriving and the costs involved have convinced me to buy European next time.

Still, in summary, I have to say that I have been pleased with my Neon and it has given me no more problems than I'd experienced previously with other cars.

I've got my fingers crossed I'll get a couple more years out of it before replace it.

Hi, My A/C is OK, but the fans have packed up. It, s OK on long runs, but when I get a snarl up she overheats and makes that gurgling noise that you mentioned. I, ve just been quoted £90 for a new fan switch! but none are in stock and they can, t get one for weeks, How very helpful. I, ve already had one replacement head gasket and don, t want to fork out for another. Any ideas???

In the first instance I would check the fuse hasn't blown and if that's OK, take a look at the thermostat before forking out big money for fan switches. Also, see if the fans come on when you activate the A/C - they should come on by default when the A/C is switched on, regardless of the engine temperature.

The cooling fans started switching on and off repeated every 5 seconds...

Hi, my neon does that, how do you stop it happening as I am a novice when it comes to motoring..thanks.

FAN SWITCHING ON & OFF EVERY 5 SECONDS. It sounds like you have the same problem I had. The plug to disconnect is green and oval in shape and located on the top of the A/C compressor/clutch unit which is behind the left hand side of the radiator as you look under the bonnet, near the cam-belt (the driver's side in England). I disconnected the green plug, bound it in electrical tape to stop dirt and damp getting in and now the fans only come on when the engine requires them for cooling purposes - as they should.

Hi guys, seening as I have had some great advice on here I thought i'd try my luck again..

Basically I want to know where I put oil into the the auto gearbox as it seems so slow at times to change up and down..it's a 97 neon 2.0 auto lx.

Thanks in advance for any info.

First of all, this may sound like semantics, but never say "oil" and "automatic transmission" in the same breath! We don't want any stupid mistakes. Believe it or not, I have actually seen people who poured motor oil into their automatic transmission, which trashes it in a matter of a few miles. Only use ATF (automatic transmission fluid). Don't even say the word "oil". From what everybody says, new Chrysler transmissions are very sensitive to using the correct type of ATF. The array of names can be dizzying--Dexron, Mercon, Dexron II and Dexron III. Look in your owner's manual to see exactly what kind of ATF your Neon uses. Don't just grab any old fluid off the shelf. Now, with that said, your automatic transmission should have a dipstick sticking up just like the one for the engine block. Often, the dipstick for the transmission is located farther back in the engine compartment, near the firewall. It may have a rubber-coated handle with a little finger grab ring. You'll add transmission fluid through the dipstick tube, but only add fluid when the car is running. You should check the fluid level when the car is hot idling in neutral, after shifting through all the gears. In neutral, pull the dipstick and check that the level is either between the lines or fills the holes (engraved or punched into the dipstick). If the dipstick indicates that the fluid level is okay, don't add more fluid. Overfilling will cause the seals to blow out. If the fluid level is low, add fluid slowly: add about half a pint (using tic marks on bottle) and check it again because you don't want to overfill. If the dipstick shows the fluid level is okay, then your hard shifting is due to some other problem.

Hi I have a neon LX 2002 the car has recently starting running out of water - I saw water dripping under the car and took it to the garage as it was also make a gurgling noise. The garage have since informed me that there is no leak and the only thing they can think of is that the head gaskett has gone and it will cost £1500 to replace it? has anyone experience the same problem as I am loath to pay £1500 when the car is probably not worth more than that - any advice most welcome.

I'm a student in Australia and drive a 1997 chrysler neon. A few months ago the thermostat switch for the fan died and the fan would remain on even after the ignition had been turned off. Not willing to fork out $180 for the replacement relay just yet, I have wired in a temporary manual switch which I can flick on when my neon overheats when stuck in traffic to start up the radiator fans. It works great and the wire and switch only costed about $20 from the auto shop. yew :)