Whats this code mean?

[adamhawk71]

I have a 98 neon, it has been running fine for the past 4 months since I bought it. It has 60,000 miles and two days ago it felt like it was sputtering. I could feel it "missing" as I drove it. Then the service engine soon light came on. I have done the on off code search and it came back as Code 12 and Code 43. I cleaned the battery cables and checked as many wiring connections as I could. Mostly I just stood over the engine trying to will it to heal itself. I drove it a while and the light is off for now. I still think the miss is there but that may be me trying to feel it. I did the on off check and it came back as Code 12 but the light isnt on (maybe because I reset it during battery disconect?). So what is a code 12, does it automaticly mean change the PCM? And what was the code 43 and where did it go , hahaha help me. Thanks for any help.

[dodgeneonACR98]

Did you read the trouble codes post thats at the top of the page? It will tell you CODE 12 Problem with battery connection.Direct battery input to pcm disconnected within the last 50 ignition key-on cycles.
CODE 43** Multiple cylinder misfire detected.Peak primary circuit current not achieved with the maximum dwell time.


Code 12 is nothing really. Just there to annoy you.
Code 43 is something Maybe! Some people I for one have gotten that code and never felt 1 missfire. And on the other hand I just had that code again but only I felt the miss and it was not good.

If you cleared your PCM by unhooking the Battery and are only getting code 12 now, chances are you might have just had a bad batch of gas. If you feel the miss and the code comes back do what I did. Go to Autozone and have them hook it up to the scanner. It will tell you which if any cylinders are missing. Mine was #4 cylinder, and it was the plug.

Good luck

[rice_eater]

You can probably figure out whats wrong just by checking a few things, you dont even need to be that mechanically inclined. To start, pull out you're spark plugs and look them over. They should look tan or whitish (not too white, but not black either) and be dry, free of oil, and appear in decent condition. If not, you may need new plugs. Next check your plug wires, you can start by looking for physical damage. If they look ok, test them for voltage leaks. Mix up a pretty strong salt water mix and put it in a spray bottle. Go out on a country road without nearby lights on a dark night and spray the saltwater mix onto the wires and coilpack with the engine running. If you see sparks arcing from wire to wire or elsewhere, or even numerous pinpricks of electricity snaking down the wires, they are shot. Usually you will see a little electricity near the coilpack terminals, this is normal. If both plugs and wires are fine, or you change them and the problem persists, dump some Iso-Heet in with your next tank of gas. A bottle of fuel system cleaner wouldnt hurt either. If that does not cure the problem, you may want to pull the air induction system off, and remove the throttle body (not near as hard as it sounds). There will probably be a bunch of black goo coating the backside of your throttlebody and the inside of the intake manifold. clean this off with a rag and some carb cleaner, but whatever you do DO NOT DROP ANYTHING INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD!!!! Put everything back together the way it was taken apart. If these little things dont fix the problem let us know, and we'll try to give you further advice. Keep us posted on how everthing goes.