Hey, this is my first post as a new member so go easy on me.

My Car: 2003 Neon SXT 5-Speed 111k miles Stock other then a couple of 10" and an MTX Amp

The issue:
About a month ago I was driving down the road and coming up to a stop light. I was coasting and then I went to put it in gear it wouldnt go. I was pissed, I rolled off to the side of the road and noted it wouldn't shift into any gear with the clutch all the way to the floor. I finally managed to slam it into gear and get it going. It felt like the clutch wasn't starting to disengage until it was almost all the way to the floor and even then if I tried to hold it to first the car would start to move a little. When i came to any stop with it in gear the engine bogged like the clutch wasn't disengaged fully. I then had to slam it into any gear when I needed to shift (double clutching did nothing).

I managed to get it to my Mechanic and he took a quick drive. He brought it into the garage and in about five minutes the problem was gone. It was below freezing and he said there might be some moister in the clutch fluid that froze, bringing it inside to warm up may have thawed it out. On my way home I noticed that although it shifted now it would grind when I tried to put it in third but after it was in it was fine. I also noticed it seemed to not like to down shift, it would hesitate when i tried to put it in 2nd and I had to push a bit harder to get it to go it but no grinding.

I drove it for a few weeks like that and then it was parked for a few weeks. Tonight I picked it up from my parents house and about half way home I reved it up coming out of an intersection in 1st or 2nd (not quite sure). The issue started again. I couldnt shift so I coasted off to the side of the road.

Odd thing was, it was about 40 degrees out so Ice wasnt the issue. After messing with the shifter a bit I got it into gear and got moving again. On the rest of the trip I noticed it currently does not have the issue with down shifting anymore but it still grinds going into 3rd. It also seems like 1st gear isn't acting right, when I try to take off from a stop like a responsible adult it feels like it is slipping a little and doesnt have the get up and go I am used to.

Please if anyone can help, I am trying to have a DIY on this since I cant afford to have it taken care of at the Mechanic, Hence the lack of upgrades and mods.

 

hmm...this is pretty interesting. I can't really tell you much besides what I'm thinking. So I figured I would and it would get your post back to the top

At first it definitely sounded like you needed a new clutch. When you can't go into gear thats a sign. Then once you said it "thawed out" and you were getting grinding I kinda figured it was maybe damage done by slamming into gear while the clutch was still engaged. Other than that information...its hard to say. Since you claim to feel a difference with the clutch and you can't shift...that would mean...clutch. But since the problem magically went away, idk.

 

Thanks for the bump.

I thought it could be the clutch at first but when the more major part of the issue came and went twice I figured it can't be the clutch. I am assuming the clutch is worn and possibly damaged. I will look at replacing that when I tear it apart.

As for the grinding in 3rd, the only thing I have found on the forum that sounds similar is that one of the Sych Sensors is bad. Sadly I am not a Tranny guru so I havent got a clue where they are or how to replace them or tell if they are bad.

I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience.

I did notice when I looked under the car, there is what seems to be a hydraulic actuator on the tranny. It is attached to a small arm that goes through a rubber boot and into the tranny on the drivers side is I recall correctly. Is that the hydraulic clutch actuator? Could that be part of the issue? I thought if it was, maybe it is getting stuck.

What do you think? Or anyone for that matter.

Thanks,
Sean

 

Wow, all the people on here and no one has had an issue like this?

 

sorry, i'm auto

 

never once, even with all 5 manual cars i've owned... sorry

 

DID YOU CHECK YOUR CLUTCH FLUID LEVEL???? AND THE SYNCH SENSOR IVE NEVER HEARD OF IT. FOR THE GRINDING GEARS CHECK TRANNY OIL LEVEL. ALSO YOUR CABLES MIGHT BE STRETCHED. AND ARENT AS TIGHT AS THEY ONCE WERE SINCE IT DOES HAVE OVER 100K ON IT.

 

Well the clutch fluid is fine, it was the first thing I checked!

All the modern dodges have sync sensors from what i have read.

And from my reading on this forum, the 2003 has a hydraulic clutch, there for no cable to get stretched.

As far as the tranny fluid, how am I supposed to check it on a manual with no dipstick? And why would that only effect 3rd gear?

 

do you know how to drive without using the clutch? cuz if you can do that and it drives ok then you can rule out your tranny being the problem. 111k miles on the original clutch is a clue that it needs replaced.

 

umm...what? do you mean like...power shifting? How would that rule out the tranny?