http://chambana.craigslist.org/cto/1881693960.html
"it comes with owners manual and title it has for new tires and 86* miles on it i don't know what's wrong with it but it won't start thought someone might want it for parts or to fix up er"
So a Neon, what is common for "doesn't run?" it is a five speed so that is a bonus...
All kinds of things....
That said, it IS a pretty clean looking R/T it looks like. I'd pay $500 for it as it sits, even if the motor is COMPLETELY fubard.
Ask if they ever changed the timing belt.
timing belt, crank sensors, fuel pumps, ecu.....T belt is the big one, it'll bend valves.
It's not an R/T, it's a Sport Coupe. R/T debuted in '98, though the Sport Coupe was basically the same package.
Timing belt failure on an interference engine means "won't turn over or makes horrible crunchy noises when it does".
Could be a few things - coil packs fail, could be computer failure (rarer), could be cam sensor is dead and won't send signal. Could be fuel pump.
Do you have or can you borrow an OBDII scanner? That would help. If not, hook up a battery and pull the codes: Key ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON without starting. After all idiot lights go out, CEL will start to flash in double-digit pulses, like flash-flash [short pause] flash-flash-flash [long pause] for "23". Print out a list of codes from www.neons.org/faq and take it with you.
I'd say $300-$500 and if the motor is not lunched it would make a dandy beater or toy.
Timing belt jumped a tooth????
I know my friend's stratus did that and it would just turn over and never fire . . .
It'll go 1 tooth without valve crashes, but probably not 2. If the tensioner is worn out, that can let it jump. There's even an OBDII code that will tell you that timing is off from initial learned value.
Thanks everyone. Checking it out tonight.
That's low miles for a '96. My wife drove a '99 Sport for about a year, then got tired of it. That was after I did the timing belt, head gasket with freshened head, new radiator, etc., etc. That car had over 170k on it when we sold it. She works with the lady she sold it to, and her kids are still beating on the car, and it's still going.
There isn't much to be afraid of with those. Parts are cheap and easy. Yah, pull the codes with a scanner or do the key dance.
Remember, back when the Neon debuted, it was the second-fastest car that Chrysler Corp sold, a tick slower than the mighty Viper! 
Fuel pump fuse was a problem I had in the past.
There's also an engine fuse on the left end of the dash. Last one I went to get needed one of those (15A iir). That and top off/ inspect fluids...
My t-belt let go at 75mph. While the lack of compression when trying to start it made it clear the belt had gone, there were NO noises and the starter spun (very) freely. There's not much that costs a lot to fix on a neon. I just received a non-running (starterr) DOHC 5-speed car (free) that had Koni's, high-rates and ST sways. Fun cars.
My .02 Nathan
That's funny - I've been driving by a $300 Neon that won't start on my way to work. I stopped to look at it, but found it was an automatic. :( I had a 99 Neon auto as a company car for a year. Darn good car - there was nothing wrong with it that a manual transmission wouldn't have fixed. I mean, the tranny worked fine, too, but the 3 speed auto is guaranteed to always be in the wrong gear and never keep the engine in the powerband.
if it won't start, why don't you push start it? (unless the ad isn't accurate)
neon4891 wrote:Fuel pump fuse was a problem I had in the past.
Often caused by downstream O2 sensor wiring rubbing on the passenger's side CV axle.
