'98 Neon - Not "fixing" lifters - Bad?

External Since: Jun 18, 2004 Posts: 1

A few weeks back, the check engine light came on for my '98 Plymouth
Neon. I took it into the shop, and mentioned that I'd noticed a
"pinging" from the engine, especially when it was cold in recent weeks.
I wasn't sure if that was part of the check engine light situation or
not.

Well, it turned out they weren't related. The check engine light was a
wiring problem, and I had that fixed. But the service rep said that the
mechanics said that the pinging was due to a problem with the lifters,
and that I should have them (I think she said replaced?) and it would be
in the $700-$800 range. She also recommended a tune-up at the same
time.

Seeing as the car is getting on in age, and has nearly 130,000 miles,
the cost of this service would nearly be the value of the car. We
decided not to have the service done, and to start looking for a new
car.

What I'm wondering is, what will be the long-term results of not having
the lifters serviced? What exactly are "lifters"?

Since the car has been back from the dealer, I haven't noticed the
pinging nearly as much as I was before. I'm hoping that the sound stays
away until I can trade it in.

Any comments appreciated.

External Since: Jan 12, 2004 Posts: 3

There are NO valve lifters in a Neon! Lifters are used on cam-in-block
engines. Yours is SOHC or DOHC.

Rick
<news082702 RemoveThis @mallet.mailshell.com> wrote in message
news:Xns950C65908200news082702malletmail@206.141.193.32...
> A few weeks back, the check engine light came on for my '98 Plymouth
> Neon. I took it into the shop, and mentioned that I'd noticed a
> "pinging" from the engine, especially when it was cold in recent weeks.
> I wasn't sure if that was part of the check engine light situation or
> not.
>
> Well, it turned out they weren't related. The check engine light was a
> wiring problem, and I had that fixed. But the service rep said that the
> mechanics said that the pinging was due to a problem with the lifters,
> and that I should have them (I think she said replaced?) and it would be
> in the $700-$800 range. She also recommended a tune-up at the same
> time.
>
> Seeing as the car is getting on in age, and has nearly 130,000 miles,
> the cost of this service would nearly be the value of the car. We
> decided not to have the service done, and to start looking for a new
> car.
>
> What I'm wondering is, what will be the long-term results of not having
> the lifters serviced? What exactly are "lifters"?
>
> Since the car has been back from the dealer, I haven't noticed the
> pinging nearly as much as I was before. I'm hoping that the sound stays
> away until I can trade it in.
>
> Any comments appreciated.
>