Car question...

[hitchface]

Heya folks,

Looking to sell my car, so I'm going through the issues to make sure it is in top shape. Only one issue stumps me: The 'vent selector knob' (the one that you twist to select between defrost, feet, face, face/feet, etc) seems to be bound up somehow. It works on defrost through to feet only, but I can't rotate the knob the rest of the way to face/feet and face only. When I try, I get a squishy feedback, and it will not rotate any more. Almost as though a cable were locked up somewhere, but my knowledge of the whole system is lacking depth.

Anybody have any ideas? It wasn't always like this, but basically just happened one day.

Oh, and the car is a 2000 Chrysler Neon. Don't laugh.

Thanks!

[EzyStvy]

Wondering if the knob is stipped...When set to Defrost, does air come out of the defrost vents?

[doubledragon5]

Just go to your nearest junk yard and pick one up. Or the dealer they should be fairly cheap..

[HAL9000]

While I don't have direct knowledge of that car, it sounds similar to a problem that I had with my very first car... there may be a wire cable attached to the knob assembly and it has simply bent a little bit. If you pull it apart and straigten the bend a bit, it should cure the problem (provided that is the method being used).

[BigRed CC Dually]

Have you ever driven with anything on the dash? There is a very good chance that something as simple as some coins or a pen or pencil has fallen down the defrost vent and the object is blocking movement of the blend door or selector. Can you take a look with a mirror perhaps? The best way to look would be with a boroscope but I doubt you would have easy access to one. Good luck. You might be able to confirm if there is an object in there by knocking on the heater box under the dash with the knob in an unstuck position and listen if you can hear something bouncing around inside.

[hitchface]

Knob isn't stripped, just because it won't turn at all, as opposed to turning freely. I'll have to crack it open and see what I can hunt down. I hate pulling apart the dash...I'll let you guys know what I come up with.

On another note, today a new noise popped up. Squealing. Not just during acceleration, but all the time/intermittent. One guy said it sounded like a water pump issue, but I suspect slipping belts. Car doesn't have to be moving to hear it. Any other thoughts/any way to tell by popping the hood?

EDIT: Popped the hood, felt the belts. They are all fairly new still, so I was even questioning that. The tread is still intact, and the belts are not overly hot at all. I started the car and listened to it close, and squealing was the wrong word. It is more of a chirping, so now I suspect an alternator bearing.

EDIT B: And to Stvy, yeah, air comes out of wherever the selector is turned to.

[glc]

In order to give you a real good guess on the knob, need to know if your climate controller is electronic, vacuum, or cable operated. A Haynes or Chilton's manual would help you here.

To nail down the chirping, use something as a stethoscope CAREFULLY - a broomstick, length of heater hose, or similar. It could be alternator, power steering, AC, or idler pulley.

[hitchface]

The vent selector definitely feels cable actuated, but I'll rip it apart today and see what happens.

I like the stethoscope idea. I'll just get somebody I trust to hold onto it.

[glc]

If it's mechanically actuated, there's a good chance the cable is frozen or you have a stuck diverter door.

[David M]

Heya folks,

Looking to sell my car, so I'm going through the issues to make sure it is in top shape. Only one issue stumps me: The 'vent selector knob' (the one that you twist to select between defrost, feet, face, face/feet, etc) seems to be bound up somehow. It works on defrost through to feet only, but I can't rotate the knob the rest of the way to face/feet and face only. When I try, I get a squishy feedback, and it will not rotate any more. Almost as though a cable were locked up somewhere, but my knowledge of the whole system is lacking depth.

Anybody have any ideas? It wasn't always like this, but basically just happened one day.

Oh, and the car is a 2000 Chrysler Neon. Don't laugh.

Thanks!

Hah...I have the same car except that it is a 2001 Neon and have experienced the same exact problem. You have to fuss with the other ventilation knob until the knob you want to move, actually moves. Give it a try...I bet it works for you. :)

[glc]

Dave, at least you only have to drive that turd every other week..... :D

[David M]

LOL...that does ease the pain of driving that under powered turd. It's hard to go between that car and the one with three times the horsepower. My wife once asked what is wrong with the Neon?...Its losing its power! I told her it still has the same power, your just getting used to the other car.

It's kinda like your truck....hit the gas and it "moos", instead of "moves"...:D

[hitchface]

Imagine going from a motorcycle to the Neon...*shudders*

I miss getting thrown back into my seat.

I'll rip the dash apart today.

[David M]

Imagine going from a motorcycle to the Neon...*shudders*

I miss getting thrown back into my seat.

I'll rip the dash apart today.

Did you first do what works for me? ...what happened? The underside of that dash has to have been put together by Munchkins with tiny little hands. I doubt it will ever go back together as it is supposed to. Remember the goal here is to maximize its sales value. A car whose dash has been ripped apart and never put back together exactly right will never have near the value. The cars value is probably not enough to be worth fussing over anyways.

Edmunds has the car listed in the $3000 range....that seems about right. http://www.edmunds.com/dodge/neon/2000/index.html

Did you ever get that 4 disc CD changer working right?

[hitchface]

No the CD player is toast. Internal parts worn out, from the looks of things. CDs all jammed in there...its ugly. I'm gonna replace it with a different deck before sale.

As for the dash...sorry, I totally had a brain fart. I'll check what you said to...did you mean to turn the temperature selector at the same time as the vent selector and just jiggle them? Kinda like a locked steering wheel and stubborn ignition?

In relation to the price, I came up with a similar one through the NADA guides. Including all options in the car, they list ours at about $3700. Not bad.

EDIT:

Checked the knobs...found out something new. If I force the knob, it moves the entire selection over one space. For instance, if the selector is on feet, and I force it farther left, it will turn. However, the feet vent will still be selected, even when pointing at feet/face.

I tried pulling some dash components off (carefully) to get at the box, but this thing is worse than something Ford would have come up with. The whole box is contained in a bulletproof fortress with impregnable screws (meaning no matter where I look I cannot see them). Tried contorting under the wheel into the drivers foot well, and found more bullet proof fortress plastic casing surrounding the whole box. This is why I like motorcycles better than cars.

[thefultonhow]

What you need is a Neon FSM:

http://www.ertyu.org/steven_nikkel/neonfsm/2000/EPL_24.pdf

Check pages 29-34...

[glc]

LOL...that does ease the pain of driving that under powered turd. It's hard to go between that car and the one with three times the horsepower. My wife once asked what is wrong with the Neon?...Its losing its power! I told her it still has the same power, your just getting used to the other car.

It's kinda like your truck....hit the gas and it "moos", instead of "moves"...:D

Let's put it this way - it's a TRUCK, dude! It will cruise all day at or above any legal speed in the USA, it is very happy on 87 octane gas, and my tires are only 100 bucks apiece and last about 60k. You are paying for the fun factor in your little rocket ship, not only initially but on a continuing basis. Of course when you hop into your Neon it feels like a turd after that - even though a Neon is one of the peppiest cars in its class.

I rented a Neon a couple years ago and was quite happy with its performance and handling. Everything is relative.

[hitchface]

Sure, for it's class it ain't bad in that area. In safety...well...http://www.roadandtravel.com/crashratings/2005%20Crash%20Ratings/sideimpact.htm

EDIT: Took the car into the shop. Turns out it was a tensioner issue. Whole job will cost 430 bucks, especially since the part comes only from Dodge...

[HAL9000]

Cars are so much fun... I just dumped $800 into mine... plastic thermostat housing cracked internally spitting out the rubber seal and new bushings in the front end.

[doubledragon5]

I hope it wan't that old Ford Bronco, we use to talk about, or was it the Mustang, or F150, or Firebird, O heck you get the picture..:D

[HAL9000]

Sorry, no more Fords for this guy, ever... this is on the Sunfire... which realistically, at 245000Km now, I'm not complaining.

[glc]

245k km - that's about 150k miles? That's about when my stepdaughter's Sunfire was just about used up. Hers was a 96 (?) with the twin cam 4 banger and a 5 speed. The timing chain was on its last legs, it was beginning to clatter like a diesel. She got rid of it, not because of this exclusively but her daughter got her license and she's too big of a klutz to drive a stick - she tried teaching her but she just didn't get it. What she WANTED to do was get a new car for herself and give the Sunfire to her daughter to finish off, but she traded it in (only got 800 bucks for it) and bought an 01 Catera. Good thing the Catera came with a 30 day 100% warranty and she knew someone at the Pontiac dealer who had it - they must have thrown over 3 grand at it to fix everything that was wrong, and for the first 30 days it was in the shop more than in her driveway. At least they gave her a loaner.

[HAL9000]

Yup, about 152K miles... The motor seems to be holding up quite strong, no probs there. Mine is a 99. It could use some new bushings in the shifter soon... getting pretty sloppy (a good 1.5 inches of side to side slop) but it still shifts no problems. Clutch was done about 90,000Km ago... the clutch itself wasn't a problem, but the hydraulic throwout bearing went on it.. figured it was all apart anyway, might as well throw the clutch in. Overall, it's been a good car to us, mostly maintenance items such as tires, brakes, oil changes, etc. We bought it with 67,000Km in Oct of 2001.... I've been toying with the idea of getting something new.. the 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander has caught my eye... I dunno if I want to spend that kind of cash though.