To the Doctor:
I have a 2001 Dodge Neon. I bought it used, and it had 18,000 miles on it. It has backfired three times in the last six months. I only live two minutes away from work and never take it on the highway. But I am planning a trip of 55 miles each way, and I am worried about my car.

I know backfiring has to do with the carburetor, but that's the extent of my knowledge. Please help!

The Doc Says:
Your Neon has a fuel-injected engine, and while backfiring in fuel-injected engines is rare, it is not without precedent. Backfiring in a fuel-injected engine is generally caused by an intake leak or when a component like an airflow sensor is damaged or defective. It doesn't sound as if the condition is causing any drivability problems, but it is indicative of a problem, one that could turn into a major issue left untreated.

Our advice? Take the vehicle to a trusted mechanic or technician and describe the problem. If it's something as simple as a balky airflow sensor, the fix shouldn't be too expensive. An intake leak could be more difficult to pinpoint and repair, but fixing the issue should help restore your car's power and performance, and would be well worth the expense in our opinion.

The advice described above is for informational purposes only. It cannot and should not be used in lieu of an actual, physical inspection and diagnosis by a trained mechanic or automotive technician. The opinions and advice offered herein are not intended to diagnose automotive problems or component failures; they are simply intended to provide information on what could be transpiring. VehicleMD accepts no liability resulting from actions taken as a result of this advice.