I've owned a neon for a few year now, and have had very few problems with it.
1997 dodge neon sport

However yesterday it started making a grinding/rattlingnoise when it is around 2200 RPM.

~It does NOTmake the noise if I am accelerating or ifI am on the gas lightly.
~ItDOES make the noise if I am in gearOR in neutral and theRPMs are dropping past the 2200 mark.(If I hit the gas at this point it stops making the noise)
~it Idles normally
~it looks like maybe the exhaust extension pipes are what are making the noise? I dont see any hangers/brackets. have them maybe vibrated off? are there any on a neon? if so is there an easy way to fix this?

any help or suggestions are appreciated
Thanks,
Prose

 

put on a new flex pipe.

 

grinding and rattling are different. is it doing both or a similarish sounding noise.

atx or mtx?

the exhaust system doesnt weld on to the car. the car has hangers and the exhaust system has them too. rubber connecters simply slip onto both hangers. get under the car and check the exhaust for holes. especially where one pipe meets another. push up on the exhuast. if pieces seem to move individually - you may need repairs. the whole exhaust from cat to muffler should act like its all one part when you push on it.

theres a lot of stuff that could grind or rattle. so thats a good place to start.

 

i had the same problem with my 97 neon as well..... after a yr i started hearing the same noise and it was my tranny so i got it rebuilt and now shes as good as new...