1998 Dodge Neon Engine Dies and Stalls On Right Turns

Reader Question

I have a 1998 Dodge Neon with only 54,000 miles on it. Recently it started hesitating a lot and now it stalls when turning corners, especially to the right. I took it to a local garage and they ran diagnostics and said I needed to take it to a Dodge dealer and have a new computer put in and flash programmed.

I did that and yet, it continues to do the same thing when turning corners. I was then told to have the power steering pressure switch replaced. I did that as well. Low and behold, I still continue to have the problem with stalling and no one seems to know what the problem is. Can you offer any suggestions ?????

Thank you,

“Puzzled and Frazzled in Ohio”

Angie

Yo Frazzled Angie,

Merry Christmas!!! Can you get the problem to occur while it is in the shop? Sure would be nice if you can…intermittent problems like this are hard to track down and diagnose.

A few things I would look at if you were at my shop would be:

1. Check fuel pressure and volume….is the fuel pump weak?

2. Is there a vacuum leak under the hood somewhere, look for anything loose or broken…..and listen for a hissing noise with the engine running

3. Inspect and clean the throttle body and idle control motor of carbon…..this should be done periodically anyway as maintenance.

4. Check the fresh air inlet hose going from the air cleaner to the engine….they can crack underneath or pull apart and allow a vacuum leak to form.

5. I would hook up a manual fuel pressure gauge under the hood and drive the vehicle around making a few right turns to see if anything happens to the fuel pressure while turning.

Since the problem is there mostly on right turns…maybe the fuel pump is loose inside the tank and sloshing around, maybe there is a crack in the fresh air hose to the engine from the air cleaner and on right turns it causes the rubber to open up and form a vacuum leak. I would definitely hone in on the fact that right turns are involved.

Keep me posted, I would like to post your “fix”

Blessings,

Austin Davis