(Yes, this is a reposted thread from General Tech, but I was told if I posted here, I'd get more responses)

Ok, i have a 2002 Dodge Neon ES, with an auto trans. 2 years ago, the trans pan started leaking, and after a few months, it got patched, but for a while I was putting normal trans fluid (not ATF+4) into the trans just to keep the fluid level high (though I used ATF+4 when I did a filter, fluid, and seal change a few months ago). The past few months, the car has been acting oddly: "sputtering" (for lack of a better word) shaking when backing up, shaking after coming off the expressway, and not having a whole lot of power when I step on the gas, even "slipping", ie giving power in jumps, when I do accelerate. I say its the trans (more specifically, the torque converter, since I heard from a parts guy at a Chrysler dealership that the torque converter likes to go on the 41TE auto transmissions, so I'd guess more so because of the leaking and wrong fluid refilling incident), but the car pulls no trans codes and my friends and family say its other things, like the distributor or fuel delivery. So what do you guys say?

 

Do you get any codes at all?

 

deja vu

first thing i would do is put atf+4 and a new filter in it. NEVER use anything but atf+4. you can almost cure a neon tranny issue with a filter and ATF+4

 

I havent had a scanner on it in a few weeks, but before this when the problems were less pronounced but I still got the "check engine" light to blink, I got no codes

 

did u do da on-off-on-off trick

 

um......what?

 

from da code section
Instructions to find diagnostic engine codes in your car:

Ok, here's what you do:

1. Put the key in the ignition.

2. Turn key all the way forward - not to the point where the car starts, just to the point where all the lights come on. Do it in this sequence: ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON..

3. Keep a close eye on your odometer. You will see a series of codes display, followed by the word "donE"...

4. These codes will tell you why the "Check Engine Light" is coming on.

5. If you see "P0442" followed by "P0456". These codes mean respectively: EVAP sensor detection... SMALL LEAK. IF IT IS THESE SET OF CODES, fear not - nothing is wrong with your car. Simply tighten your gas cap, then...

6. Pop the hood, disconnect the NEGATIVE battery terminal - DO NOT DISCONNECT THE POSITIVE TERMINAL - FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. You will run the risk of shorting out the electrical system.

7. Wait a couple of minutes, then reconnect.

8. Start the car up and TADA! CEL is gone!

Hope this helps...

 

thank you Con, the codes I got were P 302 and P 1684

 

P0302 Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected

P1684 Driver 5 Line 4

...not sure what that last one means.

I got these from a thread on this forum with tons of codes for the 2000+ neons.

https://dodgeforum.com/m_409789/tm.htm

 

1684 means this

thanks for the help guys