Chrysler Repair: Chrysler 00 Neon wont start???, powertrain control module, chrysler neon


Question
QUESTION: I i'm writing you this question from Belgium about a chrysler neon that won't start after the car went to the annual examination center here in Belgium.Once inside the building the car won't start again and the engine check light went on?The man working in this examination center did say that they have some sort of radio mast that is working on the same frequency of the car.So we pushed the car outside and after pulling of the 2 grey and black sockets behind the left front light the car started again without any problem for 1 year until the next examination of the car in the same center.So last week in the examination center the car won't start again like past year so we tried to push the car outside and pull out the socket...it worked the car started again but now when you shut the car down it won't start again without pulling the socket out? Can you please help us? The car is a Chrysler Neon 2000cc 16v from 2000.

PS:Excuse me for my bad english

ANSWER: Hi Kurt,
That is interesting. Do you have any idea what electical system is involved with the 2 gray and black sockets? Do you mean there are two separate wiring harnesses which each are disconnected, or one which has a male and the other a female? and how many pins are there in each plug-socket pair? I can't picture in my mind what is involved in this matter. Thank you for any clarification. I have a '01 manual so I should be able to figure this out once I can identify the circuit. Can you see the color codes of any of the wires?
When you say "pull out the socket" does that mean you remove a plug from a socket and after that the engine starts, or do you mean you remove a plug from a socket and then put the plug back in the socket, and then it starts?
I suspect you may be speaking of the powertrain control module (computer for the engine) which has two 40-pin plugs. It is located in the left inner front panel near the headlamp. Is that what you believe it might be? It could be that if it is the powertrain control module that is involved then it may be that its outer case is not grounded properly to the place on the body where it is mounted. So check over the fasteners that secure the computer to its mounting bracket and any shiny metal loops that might be providing mechanical and electrical connection of the outer case of the pcm to the body of the car for electrical grounding purposes. Make sure all the screws/fastheners are tight.
Roland

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for answering but can you please give more info about what to do know because the car is not starting without plugging the sockets out?

Thanks.

ANSWER: Did you get my last response? It had some ideas.
Roland

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi roland i think these codes can tell more about the problem? p1607 and 1684???

Thanks for answering.

Answer
Hi Kurt,
The 1684 is expected as the result of unplugging the two plugs at the pcm.
The interesting issue is that I don't find a 1607 for the Neon in my '01 manual, nor in any manual until about '03 and then that code applies to a NCG type computer (one that combines the engine and transmission computers into a single unit) which I believe is not the kind used in your '00 vehicle. It says (in the case of an NCG unit) that there is a problem with the voltage supply to the computer that comes from the ignition switch (in your case that would be on pin 20 of one of the two plugs) so you could check whether that 12v is or is not present on that pin when you have the ignition in the run position and also, if so, try shaking the harness to see if it might be flaky, and also check the ignition switch by jiggling the key while it is in the run position to see if that switch might be flaky. Take another look at the km window after asking for the codes and verify that it really says 1607.
Let me know what you learn, please.
Roland