2000 DODGE NEON open hood

HOOD
REMOVAL
(1) Raise hood to full up position.
(2) Disengage under hood lamp wire connector
from engine compartment wire harness.
(3) Remove hood cover (Fig. 20).
(4) Mark all bolt and hinge attachment locations
with a grease pencil or other suitable device to pro-
vide reference marks for installation. When installing
hood, align all marks and secure bolts. The hood
should be aligned to 4 mm (0.160 in.) gap to the front
fenders and flush across the top surfaces along fend-
ers.
(5) Remove the top bolts attaching hood to hinge
and loosen the bottom bolts until they can be
removed by hand.
(6) With assistance from a helper at the opposite
side of the vehicle to support the hood, remove bot-
tom bolts attaching hood to hinge.
(7) Remove the hood from the vehicle.
INSTALLATION
(1) Place hood in position on vehicle. With assis-
tance from a helper at the opposite side of the vehicle
to support the hood, install bottom bolts to hold hood
to hinge finger tight.
(2) Install top bolts attaching hood to hinge finger
tight.
(3) Position bolts at marks and tighten bolts. The
hood should be aligned to 4 mm (0.160 in.) gap to the
front fenders and flush across the top surfaces along
fenders.(4) Install hood cover.
(5) Engage under hood lamp wire connector to
engine compartment wire harness.
(6) Verify hood operation and alignment.
HOOD SILENCER
REMOVAL
(1) Release hood latch and open hood.
(2) Disconnect hood lamp wire connector and
remove hood lamp (Fig. 21).
(3) Remove fasteners attaching hood silencer to
hood.
(4) Remove hood silencer from vehicle.
INSTALLATION
(1) Place hood silencer in position on vehicle.
(2) Install fastener attaching hood silencer to hood.
(3) Install hood lamp and connect wire connector.
(4) Close hood.
HOOD HINGE
REMOVAL
(1) Support hood on the side that requires hinge
replacement.
(2) Mark all bolt and hinge attachment locations
with a grease pencil or other suitable device to pro-
vide reference marks for installation. When installing
hood hinge, align all marks and secure bolts. The
hood should be aligned to 4 mm (0.160 in.) gap to the
front fenders and flush across the top surfaces along
fenders. Shims can be added or removed under hood
hinge to achieve proper hood height.
(3) Remove bolts holding hood to hinge.
(4) Remove bolts holding hood hinge to load beam
flange and separate hinge from vehicle. If necessary,
paint new hinge before installation.
INSTALLATION
(1) If necessary, paint new hinge before installa-
tion.
(2) Place hinge in position on vehicle.
(3) Install bolts to hold hood hinge to front fender
flange.
(4) Install bolts to hold hood to hinge.
(5) Align all marks and secure bolts. The hood
should be aligned to 4 mm (0.160 in.) gap to the front
fenders and flush across the top surfaces along fend-
ers. Shims can be added or removed under hood
hinge to achieve proper hood height.
(6) Remove support from under hood and verify
hood operation.
Fig. 19 Hood Release Cable
1 ± HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
2 ± COWL SIDE TRIM PANEL
23 - 26 BODYPL
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

COWL COVER
REMOVAL
(1) Release hood latch and open hood.
(2) Remove windshield wiper arms, refer to Group
8K, Windshield Wiper and Washer Systems for
proper procedures.
(3) Remove the five screws holding cowl cover to
cowl at base of windshield opening (Fig. 23).(4) Remove hood to cowl seal, at the leading edge
of cowl cover. Pull the seal towards the front of the
vehicle.
(5) Separate the cowl cover from the vehicle.
INSTALLATION
(1) Place cowl panel in place on vehicle.
Fig. 20 Hood
1 ± FENDER TO HOOD HINGE SEAL
2 ± HOOD TO RADIATOR WEATHERSTRIP
3 ± FENDER TO HOOD SEAL4 ± COWL SIDE TO COWL TOP
5 ± COWL PLENUM TO HOOD WEATHERSTRIP
Fig. 21
1 ± HOOD
2 ± HOOD SILENCERFig. 22 Hood Hinge
1 ± HOOD HINGE
2 ± HOOD
3 ± HOOD HINGE
PLBODY 23 - 27
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

(2) Install the five screws holding cowl panel to
cowl at base of windshield opening.
(3) Push the hood to cowl seal over the forward
flange of the cowl cover and cowl plenum.
(4) Install windshield wiper arms, refer to Group
8K, Windshield Wiper and Washer Systems, for
proper procedures.
FRONT WHEELHOUSE SPLASH SHIELD
REMOVAL
(1) Hoist and support vehicle on safety stands.
(2) Remove front wheel.
(3) Remove push-in fasteners attaching splash
shield to frame rail forward of suspension (Fig. 24).
(4) Remove push in fasteners attaching splash
shield to frame rail rearward of suspension.
(5) Remove screws attaching wheelhouse splash
shield to front fender.
(6) Remove splash shield from vehicle.
INSTALLATION
(1) Place splash shield in position on vehicle.
(2) Install screws attaching wheelhouse splash
shield to front fender.
(3) Install push in fasteners attaching splash
shield to frame rail rearward of suspension.
(4) Install push in fasteners attaching splash
shield to frame rail forward of suspension.
(5) Install front wheel.
(6) Lower vehicle.
FENDER
REMOVAL
(1) Remove headlamp housing.
(2) Right side of vehicle remove pulley splash
shield.(3) Remove inner splash shield.
(4) Remove fender to fascia nuts.
(5) Remove fender bolt to lower rocker panel.
(6) Remove fender bolt to lower cowl.
(7) Pull fascia away from fender.
(8) Remove bolts attaching fender to upper rail.
(9) Remove fender from vehicle (Fig. 25).
INSTALLATION
(1) Place fender in position on vehicle.
(2) Start the center upper rail bolt.
(3) From inside engine compartment, install all
the bolts attaching fender to upper rail and tighten.
(4) Install lower cowl panel bolt to fender.
(5) Install rocker panel bolt to fender.
(6) Place fascia into position.
(7) Install fender to fascia nuts.
(8) Install inner splash shield.
(9) Install right side pulley splash shield.
(10) Install headlamp assembly.
(11) Check fender for flush and gap.
EXTERIOR BADGEING ATTACHED WITH
DOUBLE SIDED FOAM TAPE
REMOVAL
(1) Mark reference points before removing.
(2) Using a heat gun gently apply heat in a circu-
lar motion to loosen the adhesive bond.
(3) Using a nonmetallic prying device, such as a
plastic or wood trim stick gently pry up at corners
and remove.
(4) Clean off all traces of adhesive or double sided
tape from the panel with a general purpose adhesive
remover.
INSTALLATION
(1) Clean panel surface with isopropy alcohol.
(2) Align badgeing to reference points.
(3) Install and press securely to full adhesive con-
tact
(4) Clean away any reference points.
EXTERIOR BADGEING/TAPE STRIPES
ATTACHED WITH ADHESIVES
REMOVAL
(1) Mark reference points before removing.
(2) Using a heat gun gently apply heat in a circu-
lar motion to loosen the adhesive bond.
(3) With your fingernail lift up and peel away
badgeing /tape from panel, using a heat gun as you
go.
(4) Clean off all traces of adhesive from the pan-
el(s) with a general purpose adhesive remover.
Fig. 23 Cowl Cover
1 ± COWL TOP SCREEN
23 - 28 BODYPL
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)

SPECIFICATIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page page
SPECIFICATIONS
BODY LUBRICATION SPECIFICATIONS........60
BODY GAP AND FLUSH MEASUREMENTS.....61
BODY OPENING DIMENSION...............62BODY SEALING LOCATIONS................64
STRUCTURAL ADHESIVE LOCATIONS........74
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS.................76
WELD LOCATIONS.......................77
SPECIFICATIONS
BODY LUBRICATION SPECIFICATIONS
LUBRICATION REQUIREMENTS
Body mechanisms and linkages should be
inspected, cleaned, and lubricated, as required, to
maintain ease of operation and to provide protection
against rust and wear. When performing other under
hood services, the hood latch release mechanism and
safety catch should be inspected, cleaned, and lubri-
cated. During the winter season, external door lock
cylinders should be lubricated to assure proper oper-
ation when exposed to water and ice.
Prior to the application of any lubricant, the parts
concerned should be wiped clean to remove dust and
grit. If necessary, a suitable solvent can be used to
clean the item to be lubricated. After lubricating a
component, any excess oil or grease should be
removed.
LUBRICANT APPLICATION
DOOR LOCK CYLINDERS
(1) Apply a small amount of lubricant directly into
the lock cylinder.
(2) Apply a small amount of lubricant to the key.
(3) Insert key into lock cylinder and cycle the
mechanism from the locked to the unlocked position.
NOTE: Do not add more lubricant.
(4) Cycle the lock cylinder mechanism several
times to allow the lubricant to flow throughout the
cylinder.
(5) Wipe all lubricant from exterior of lock cylinder
and key.ALL OTHER BODY MECHANISMS
(1) Clean component as described above.
(2) Apply specified lubricant to all pivoting and
sliding contact areas of component.
LUBRICANT USAGE
ENGINE OIL
²Door Hinges ± Hinge Pin and Pivot Contact
Areas
²Hood Hinges ± Pivot Points
²Liftgate Hinges
²Decklid Hinges
MOPARTSPRAY WHITE CUBE OR EQUIVALENT
²Door Check Straps
²Liftgate Latches
²Liftgate Prop Pivots
²Ash Receiver
²Fuel Filler Door Remote Control Latch Mecha-
nism
²Parking Brake Mechanism
²Sliding Seat Tracks
²Decklid Latch
MOPARTMultipurpose GREASE OR EQUIVALENT
²All Other Hood Mechanisms
MOPARTLOCK CYLINDER LUBRICANT OR
EQUIVALENT
²Door Lock Cylinders
²Decklid Lock Cylinder
23 - 60 BODYPL