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A Dodge Neon & a Nissan Altima

Repair Questions Answered on a Blind Neon & an Altima Throttle Body.

Aug 15, 2007

Your questions answered about a Dodge Neon and a Nissan Altima.

This weekly Q&A session answers your questions about cars and trucks. This week explores a broken Dodge Neon Crankshaft Position Sensor and a Nissan Altima throttle body.

Question: 1995 Dodge Neon

I have been searching for some effective way to remove a broken Crankshaft Position Sensor on my 1995 Dodge Neon. Now I am not even sure that was the problem! Anyway, when I was removing the old sensor, pulling it straight back, it broke right at the base. I am thinking that the original is ceramic rather than the new metal one I have. Big question is... if I take a drill to the remains... is the hole "open" to the block or is it just a closed end. Rather, when I get the remnants out, do I need to worry about chips and garbage getting into my oil and causing damage?

Thanks,

Bob

Answer:

There is no information if it is a blind hole or not. But it is a very good possibility it is not. What you can do is drill a small hole through the broken sensor. When you feel you have gone through the sensor pull your drill out and take a stiff piece of wire and put it through the hole you just drilled. If it is a blind hole you will feel it stop. If it keeps going then it is an open hole.

From that point any shavings will go down into the oil pan. Now drill the hole larger a step at a time until the old piece can be worked out.

After you have the old piece out clean the area well with carburetor cleaner and pour some oil into the hole so you wash any remaining metal dust and chips. When you are done change the oil and filter to get what you can out. Anything that's left in the oil pan won't hurt anything.

Question: 1997 Nissan Altima

This is a 1997 Nissan Altima. Since there is a little leak at the throttle body gasket, I need to remove the throttle body. Between the throttle body and accelerator cable bracket, there is a lever with two ball-shaped staffs at both ends. How do you disconnect this lever? Does it just pull out?

Thanks very much…

Shu

Answer:

Yes Shu, they just pop out. Place the end of a pair of needle nosed pliers between the ball and staff and work it off. When you put it back together clean the ball and socket and place a dab to a dab and a half of grease in the socket and pop it back together.

That’s all for this week. Feel free to browse the archives for past topics. And, as always, if you are stuck and need an immediate answer you can always call Vince on the phone.

The copyright of the article A Dodge Neon & a Nissan Altima in Auto Tech & Repair is owned by Vincent Ciulla. Permission to republish A Dodge Neon & a Nissan Altima in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Comments

Mar 18, 2008 12:35 PM

Pietro_127 :

i own a '95 Neon, and to be honest, i hate it. i have invested too much money in this car, but its all i have right, so for it to not work, means i do not work...i have recently replaced the engine alternator, battery, transmission fuelpump/waterpump with the motor. alternator was purchased from a scrapyard, as was the motor and transmission, however the mechanics wouldnt have installed the items unless they were decent... so now that you have a little background. recently my car was parked, idleing, i went to change the CD and my accessories shut down, so i shut the car off and attempted to restart the car, it coughed once and started clicking like the battery was dead. few hours later i returned, and the car started like a dream, however died shortly after. would these problems be associated with the alternator being crap? any ideas would be helpful. also drive the car for a minute and depress the gass pedal and it sputters and almost dies.

Apr 12, 2008 1:45 PM

Elizabeth Figueroa :

hi, I own a 97 dodge neon and love my car, You bought the year that dodge neons first came out which had its problems. For a suggetion your alternator probably is going on your car. Does the check ingine light or battery light come on in your car? if so bring it to an auto zone or Advanced auto parts store and they can do a check on your charging system to help you further.Also, If your car is still sputtering which mine has done a year ago it was a good tune up. You probably want to get the spark plugs,wires and any other item that is suggested for a tune up. Also just for you to know that even though a mechanic put those items in for does not gaurentee the parts being decent. Most mech, want the money and don't bother telling you. Also , it is very risky to buy parts from a scrap yard as from experiance they can last a hour to a year but can be the worst way to go.try getting parts that are remanufactured or new from a parts store. reply for any more advice!!

Apr 18, 2008 1:55 AM

dawn cook :

if the auto relay switch is bad, can it cause the battery light to come on & make the alternator not charge?
the alternator has been tested out of the vehicle, checked out ok,was reinstalled and battery is still not charging and the battery light on the dashboard is light up?

can anyone help me please
thank you so much
QQ

Apr 26, 2008 9:02 PM

phoenixraising :

I have a 2000 neon that is doing the same thing, I have bench tested the alternator, checked all the related wiring and the relay, and the only wire that i'm not getting anything out of is the one that goes to the computer, and i cant seem to find any info on it at all. I believe it is the dark green wire that plugs into the voltage regulator( which is inside of the alternator) I'm not sure if the wire is for the idiot light or if it is the signal wire for the voltage regulator. If i find anything I will let you know:)

4 Comments