Got a '97 plymouth neon, 2.0 dohc automatic. Been doing great since I did the head/gasket about 4500 miles ago. Haven't had one problem except an o2 sensor go out. About 4 days ago, I changed the oil/filter, and the tranny filter. Refilled the trans with the recommended atf+3 fluid, and refilled engine to proper levels. When I drove it home that day, it did great, and not a problem the next day. Went out of town for the weekend, car was locked and no one used it. Drove to work this morning, did great. Coming home this afternoon though, I had the a/c going, and about half way home, I noticed the temperature was coming up, not getting too hot, but about 3/4 up the gauge, in turning the a/c off and running the heater and all, temp dropped back down just fine, got it home no problem. Let it cool off some and pulled the radiator cap. No smell of combustion gasses in the coolant, no bubbles or nothing, no smoke out the exhaust. Electric fans are working properly, fluids are all topped off. Trans fluid almost smelled like it may have gotten a little burnt. How I don't know. Took it for a drive and it did fine, until I turned the a/c on, then temperature started rising. Going to blow out the radiator/condensor fins tomorrow, but I can't believe that would be the problem, it's never done it before, and I've ran the a/c ALOT. Just a little confused, tranny doesn't feel like it's slipping or doing anything other than normal to cause excessive heat, my only guess is the added heat from the condensor. It's been pretty hot here weather wise lately, but I guess I'm just confused. Anyone run into a similar issue or have any suggestions? Sorry the post is so long and thanks in advance...

 

Did you use Mopar ATF+3? Do you mix the coolant 50/50 with DI water?

 

Didn't use the mopar atf +3, used the valvoline max life stuff that's good to run with it though. I don't know what DI water is but I've been running that coolant in it new since I did the head, so there's nothing wrong with it... And just an update, went to blow out the radiator today, not a whole lot of crap, but in the process with the ignition off the damn fans kicked on and won't shut off... And it was getting hot just driving home with no a/c on today...

 

Very odd. My fans have never ran with the ignition off. I always assumed there was a built in interlock. I was always discouraged by those old ford escorts, when I would walk by them parked in a parking lot, owner nowhere to be seen, and the cooling fan was humming along. I thought car manufacturers stopped that idiotic design years ago. I am sure glad my fan doesn't run on its own. I may be wrong but i think you have a problem if yours does. I am the dude that also has an over heat issue with the A/C on. I have a mechanic tearing apart the engine (also have bad compression on cylinder 1) thinking mayben a head gasket. Has your been changed or still the original paper gasket? Mine has not. I will let you know in a day or two if mine is bad.

 

The fan not shutting off when you turn the car off probably means that your relay has gone bad, it happend to me when I was parking at a Family dollar once, easy to replace

 

just a thought but maybe your transmission fluid is getting crazy hot and the oil cooler in the radiator is heating everything up. You said you did a filter swap, maybe something got pinched and your not getting enough flow to keep it cool.

 

Good thought, sometimes even a hotter then norm cat can cause it to do that as well, but the fan should still be shutting off even if it is over heating, every I went somewhere Id have to disconnect the battery till I came back, but that was only like for a day till I got the new relay

 

if the fluid smells even a bit burnt it needs to be changed again(heat can break down the fluid and cause MAJOR damage to the tranny). sometimes when changing atx fliud you can trap air in the tranny just like the cooling sys. it's a good idea to fill it to the fac specs, let it idle in "N" for 15min and check the level again. you most likely will have to add more. then take it for a drive for 5-10miles, check the level again. by this time the fluid should have heated up enough to be at the right level for the dip-stick marks, and run long enough to fill all the nooks and crannies with fluid. hope this helps. good luck.

 

Well after throwing it on a code reader, fan relay is a pos... Had to order one won't be here till wednesday, today's saturday... But does anyone know where this damn thing is?

 

1997-1999 Neons, the radiator fan relay is located on the driver's-side frame rail (see pics below)... If you want to get at it from the top, I would suggest remove the battery and battery tray.

*Thanks to NeonStyl for the info and pic.



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