The 2000 Dodge Neon has a four-cylinder engine. This means the engine has four spark plugs, four spark plug wires and one distributor cap. All of which you will replace when you complete a tune-up on your engine. According to the Haynes repair manual for the 2000 Dodge Neon, a tune-up is required every 50,000 miles, or sooner if you notice a significant decrease in fuel mileage or you notice your engine running rough or stalling.
Locate the position indicator on the top of the distributor cap already on the Neon. The indicator is an indentation on the top of the cap. Remove the spark plug wire next to the indentation. Locate the indentation on a new distributor cap and plug that wire into the spot next to the indicator. Repeat this process with the other three plug wires as you work your way around the distributor. Transferring the old wires to the new distributor ensures you do not get the firing order out of sequence.
Remove the bolts that secure the distributor cap onto the distributor using a socket and ratchet. Pull the old cap off and replace it with the new cap. Secure the new cap using the socket and ratchet.
Locate the spark plug on the driver's side of the engine toward the radiator. The spark plug has a spark plug wire boot on it. Pull up on the boot to remove it from the spark plug. Remove the other end of the wire from the distributor cap.
Remove the old spark plug from the engine head using a socket and ratchet. Thread a new plug into the engine head with your fingers to avoid cross-threading. Tighten the spark plug using the socket and ratchet.
Connect the new plug wire to the open spot on the distributor cap, and then plug the other end of the spark plug wire onto the new spark plug.
Repeat Steps 3 through 5 on the second, third and fourth spark plugs.
