I need help! I don't know much about cars and my car is having problems, its the first car I have had to take car of on my own. My car started to accelarate on its own the other day without me giving it any gas. When its in park the engine sounds like its revving. The car now has a burning smell. I obviously have to take it to get fixed but I dont want the person to charge me and say abunch of stuff is wrong, plus it I look like I have some knowlege of the situation maybe he wont take advantage of my youth and the fact that I am female and try over charging me. Thanks.

what year is the car?

Are your RPM's jumping around while you are sitting at idle? Sounds like your sprak plugs need to be changed. Could also be TPS sensor.

It is a 2000 and it is a basic model, I dont know if the RPM's are jumping around there is no dial for it since it is a basic model, but it sounds like it. Could spark plugs cause a burning smell? Thanks

check the snorkel from the throttle body to the intake manifold seen these split and suck air causing the rpm to take off on you when ever its moved or warmed or whatever disturbs it rocking of engine ???

Mine would start and run fine until warm, then start doing the same thing, would rev up and down without touching the gas, drove me nuts!! brought it to be diagnosed , got charged 75 bucks for the wrong answer. Ended up being a faulty crankshaft position sensor- cost 27.00

I had the same prob with my 96, could be the sparkplugs, resistive wires or fuel pump

My buddy has a 2000 Neon 4 cyl with the same problem. someone else changed his starter and now it surges and backfires and a check engine light cam eon. Code said someone about a vaccuum leak. i didn;t see anything disconnected but he can;lt drive it. he drove it once and it smelled like it was burning. It was his brakes burning from trying to stop since the RPM was staying too high. Is this a usual problem with these cars?? he has 84,000 miles

My buddy has a 2000 Neon 4 cyl with the same problem. someone else changed his starter and now it surges and backfires and a check engine light cam eon. Code said someone about a vaccuum leak. i didn;t see anything disconnected but he can;lt drive it. he drove it once and it smelled like it was burning. It was his brakes burning from trying to stop since the RPM was staying too high. Is this a usual problem with these cars?? he has 84,000 miles
My friends car ended up having a cracked intake manifold...