My wife drives a stock 96 neon with 2.0 sohc matched to an atx. It has 70k miles and the transmission slips from 2-3 on light shifts. I found a TSB that describs the problem, but I think the problem could be worse and we are looking at a transmission replacement/rebuild.

Do you trust replacement/rebuild trasmissions?

I have done some research and found that if I need to do a transmission swap, I am looking at $150-$1500 for a used to high performance transmission. I am guessing the swap will be 4 hours labor? So add another $500-$1000 depending on the garage I use?

Should I keep the car?

It depends on how much $$$ it will cost to get the car running reliable for 2 more years. A 10 year old car, that had its head gasket replaced twice (working fine now) and a little rust in the trunk makes me think...no, trade or sell the car and get the wife a new car (got to experience a new car at least once in life right?).

I'd love to find a back yard mechanic to help me swap the transmission, but I am recovering from open heart surgery 2 months ago. Also, performing a transmission swap during winter in CT is not fun either unless you have a garage.

The advice I have been given so far to fix this is to try the TSB, and then change the atx fluid and filter and then follow up with some Lucas Transmission Fix.

If you have any other suggestions,itwould be greatto hear from you.

Thanks

 

my opinion is just go get a used tranny from the junkyard...it really doesnt take that long to replace the tranny....

take off the tires..... 5mins
unscrew the drive axle nuts....5 mins with a impact wrench
loosen the tie rod from the control arm......15-20 mins
remove the battery to get to the shift linkage cables....10-20mins
unbolt the tranny!.....30mins-an hour

oh yea....jack up the car b4 u take off the tires.....

if a mechanic charges you more than 3-4 hours labor to do that type of job....hes bs-ing you.

 

Hey. Before you do anything, I would suggest going to the parts store and get lucas stop-slip. I swear by this stuff. My uncle has a 96 dodge ram 1500 and the tranny was slipping real bad between 2nd and 3rd, he couldnt even get it to shift. He changed the tranny filter and fluid, tried I think in the neighborhood of 10 different tranny additives, and so on. He was about to break down and buy a new tranny when I got him a bottle of lucas. He put half of that in and in about 2 miles it was shifting. It would still kind of slip but has shifted ever since, he has put 20000 miles on it since then. I think the difference between lucas and stp and all these other brands is that lucas is thick, not like water. It actually helps the shift seals and such. It cost about $8-$12 bucks a bottle, but it is well worth doing before having to have it rebuilt or a new tranny, so please take my experiance and use it!! Good luck!!

 

I would put a 5 speed in it...

 

X2 or get a used tranny for about $150-$300.

 

Put lucas in it & change the oil & filter. Then run it untill it don't go no more. Trade it for a new car. I have a 96 & I will not put another transmission in it. I will part it out. That car owes me nothing. Its been a great car but its over 10 years old and not worth my time or $300.00 For some of you it might be worth it but not for me. Just my 2 cents

 

$300 to get another 50,000-150,000 miles on it...seems worth it to me!!!

 

Thanks for all the advice and confirming Lucas Trans fix.

It went into the shop today for the TSB to be looked at.

If I get no results from the TSB, I will try the trans fluid and filter replacement.

And if that does nothing, I will add the Lucas Trans fix.

And finally, if Lucas does nothing, replace with a JY trans.

Anyone know of a good transmission mech in CT?
Thanks

 

be sure to get ATF +3 or +4, dont use dextron/mercron, put that **** in a dodge trans thats just asking for it to take a crap on ya.

 

I don't, but here's some advice. Find a shop that will just install the tranny and will let you bring in your own. Don't buy some "rebuilt" or "remanufactured" tranny. I've seen people do this and still have the tranny mess up on them.