2nd Gen Neon 2000 - 2005 2nd Gen Neon

my neon has a major problem...help!

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  #1  
Old 08-30-2007 | 02:25 PM
wannarace928's Avatar
wannarace928
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Default my neon has a major problem...help!

Hello
I am new here but have had my neon for a long while. (little over3 years)It is a 2003 Dodge Neon SE, automatic with about 115k miles. It has been used for long distance driving only since i bought it. About 30k miles ago the radiator split causing the transmission fluid to end up in the coolant and over heat the car. I caught it soon enough when it did it, and I got by with flushing out the transmission 2 times and replacing the radiator and doing a coolant flush. Now however, I was driving home one day and the car SLAMMED into second gear in the middle of a 3 lane highway, scaring me half to death.... I pulled to the side of the road and it seems the car is stuck in second gear, or "limp home" mode. The check engine light came on the second this happened but never prior to this happening. I read the check engine codes and it has one for solenoid B and one for a problem with the transmission control unit. I checked the coolant and there is transmission fluid in the coolant AGAIN. But it did not make the engine over heat like it did the last time. And when checking the transmission fluid when the car is cold it is at the MAX for hot, when checking it when the car is hot, it is at the MAX for cold.
I basically want to get this car back on the road as quickly as possible and spend the least money possible.
If I would go to a junk yard and buy a used transmission and toss that in it, and buy a NEW NOT DODGE radiator (basically some otherbrand thatwont break like the stock ones do)for it, flush the cooling system, and replace any tranny seals and internal tranny filter before installing,how likely will this make my problem go away? The car is drivable but cannot go over 30 mph because it is stuck in limp home mode, the dealer said there is no way to get it out of this mode without fixing the problem, and I am not 100% sure what the problem is, but my guess is a toasted tranny.
I just put 1800$ into the brakes on this car (new rotors & pads on the front, new drums, shoes, spring kit, wheel seals and wheel bearings on the back) so I would like to keep the car and get it running again, I have always loved it for long trips and vacations, it is quite roomy for a small car. But this transmission and radiator issue cannot keep happening. HELP!!!!!!!!!
 
  #2  
Old 08-30-2007 | 02:28 PM
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Biged83
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Default RE: my neon has a major problem...help!

the trans is done. you would need to do a rebuild on it. the cheapest way would be to go with a junkyard trans with a koyo radiator (ebay) i know the trans rebuild runs a lil over 3grand.
 
  #3  
Old 08-30-2007 | 08:30 PM
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bone33
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From: Eighty Four PA
Default RE: my neon has a major problem...help!

cant help you on the tranny issue.... but 1800 for brakes and bearings/seals!!!!!!! you could have done it yourself in a few hours for a few hundred.
 



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