Well, I'm definitely marrying the right guy...I called my fiance because I finally got the right coil pack for the Neon and was installing it when I dropped the dang socket I needed.

Him: "You're fixing the car?"
Me: "Yes."
Him: "Even with the long nails?"
Me: "Yes."
Him: "Are you covered in grease yet?"
Me: "No."
Him: "Dang."

So I ended up running to the local Farm & Fleet to get a new socket, got home, put in the coil pack, hooked everything up, and tried to start it...NOTHING.

The fuel pump is fine, the oil level'* fine, the coil pack, plugs, wires, and battery are fine. Does anyone have any idea why our deathtrap won't start? I hear it has a lot of sensors, but I don't know what all to check. Fixing this thing'* mostly up to me, because my fiance has a lot of other stuff he needs to take care of right now.

Thanks in advance!

Does it even crank?

Did you unhook the battery or something silly while playing with the coil pack?

Yes, it cranks, and no, I didn't disconnect the battery. It tries to start, but won't..

Did you actually check fuel pressure? And you want to check and make sure the alt is happy.

I had this problem with the wife'* neon in January. Turned out to be damaged wiring with the fuel pump. Also, are you sure the coil pack you have works?

How do I check the fuel pressure? My fiance told me it was fine, but his method of testing was "I smell gas when I try to start it, therefore it must be working." The alt was just replaced before we got the car, and the coil pack DOES work.

You need a fuel pressure tester for chrysler vehicles. There'* a dickfer on the fuel rail that you hook up to. For purposes of this test, you really just need to see if there'* any pressure coming in at all.

What you're describing sounds exactly like what happen to the wife'* slowmobile.

Oh yeah, I knew I forgot to ask something,

You know the on off trick for pulling codes right? You should check that as well.

With the key in the ignition, turn the key from off to on 5 times rapidly. The idiot light will start flashing number sequences.

FLASH pause FLASH FLASH for instance is 12

Get all the codes and I'll look them up for you tonight. You'll get at least one code (55 I think) which says all clear.

I think i'm jumping into the middle of the problem here...would you mind explaining what went wrong with the car in the first place?

After the installation of the new coil; have you checked for spark at the coil?

fiance was wrong on the method for checking codes, too...

I don't get a "service engine soon" light when I try to start it, which is odd. I'll check tonight and see if it will throw codes anyway. I don't have home internet right now, so I'll probably have to get online Monday at work again and let you know what happened.

IKZ, I drove it home after work one night, shut it off, woke up in the morning, tried to start it to go to work, and it wouldn't start.

I've checked for spark at the new coil pack, and it was there.