Is there a mechanic in the house?

Question

I own a 2000 Dodge Neon, 100,000 miles.
The rear main seal is leaking, but I am more worried about the knocking sound I hear when engine is cold. After it warms up, it quiets down. Would it be the main engine bearing? Something else perhaps? Will it cost a fortune to get repaired?
Ideas?

Answer 1

i own a repair shop,,and your going to have to remove the engine to remove the rear main seal so id have the bearings checked while it was out if they need replacing now would be the time to do it,while it is out,,its not that hard of a job to do,,but will take some time to do,,i have done a lot of the neon's and there easy to do once the engine is out,,if your going to have It done it shouldn't cost over 500-600 to have it all done at once ,good luck with it,,,i hope this help,s.

Answer 2

It sounds like the engine is about to let you down. Unfortunately that little engine isn't all that robust, and is pretty maintenance intensive.
If it ever got hot, or if you have allowed the oil change go long, or worse, let the oil get low, there is some serious damage to deal with.
You are at a point that you need to trade it in (soon)
or
consider a replacement engine.
To rebuild the one you have is a very pricey undertaking, and you STILL have a rebuilt or overhauled engine, and warranty may only be 90 days. To repair the one you have may well take a couple of weeks considering machine sub-lets and waiting on parts, etc.
If you replace the engine, it can be done complete in just a couple of days (if planned well with the repair shop) and the warranty should be somewhere around 2 years.
Or, change the oil, use something along the lines of 20W-50 SAE, warm it up and trade it in.

Good Luck

Answer 3

If you're hearing knocking sounds on this 100,000 mile car it's time to seriously start thinking about an engine! It could be bearings in general (main or connecting rod) not necessarily the rear one either. The knock could also be rist pins in the pistons hammering away. Either one you're about to endure a pretty expensive problem. I wouldn't waste my money just repairing the rear main seal. Just a total waste of everyones time and money!

Answer 4

Both rod and main bearings tend to "knock" more hot than cold just because the oil is thicker cold than hot.

100,000 miles on a Neon is a lot of miles. Depending on the CID of the motor, some had a complex valve timing / crank counterbalance system that's labor intensive to repair.

IMO trade it in, but you might buy a few more months using Lucas Oil Stabilizer.

Answer 5

1st check the OIL LEVEL.

Owning that you are loosing oil - and a low oil level will cause some parts of the motor to starve of oil due to the leak - so all in all you will need to do a tare down to determine what bearings are in need of repair.

Personal opinion - if you can afford a new vehicle do it - an engine overhaul you are looking about about $3K+ that is Labor and Parts - you also might want to get a used motor, they have 90 day guaranties....Always a chance you might get a bad unit but better then giving 20K for a new car.

Good Luck

Answer 6

It most likely isn't the rear main bearing, but one or more of the rod bearings wearing out. But is best to get it checked by a well trusted mechanic to really determine the needs of repair. Good luck.

Answer 7

The old girl might be on the way out , check with acouple of trusted garages and dealer ships for pricing and find out what is going on with every thing. good luck .

Answer 8

ive had a few vehicles that rattled when you first start them (1986 ford ranger was the worst).. i think all it is, after it sits the oil drains down into the pan, and when you first start it it has no lubrication until the pump pushes oil back up

Answer 9

sounds Like maybe your gas should be Premium instead of regular.