Just went on a 2000 mile trip with the car, rode flawlessly the entire trip... no problems! Well two days later and the first time driving it since the trip..I go to leave and after a few miles at 55mph it sputters, the engine light comes on.. then dies. Does this a few times at lower speed ( almost like it was overheating ) till I add water to the coolant ( was empty or very low ) hasnt died since but will not shift out of first and the engine light came on right before the sputtering and wont go off. Tranny fluid and oil are fine.. any ideas as to what this may be? Should I disconnect the battery to reset the computer? Im worried this is a transmission problem but I dont understand why it was fine the whole trip and now it doesnt want to shift. After adding coolant I drove home at 25mph since it was stuck in first and it didnt die at all. Im pretty sure it wasnt over heating since the temp guage didnt go above mid-range. Any ideas? This is a 2002 neon.. only 60,000 miles!

I know scanning for codes is the easy way but Im in the sticks and not too eager to drive 20 miles in first gear on a busy highway to get to Advance Auto...

Thanks all

 

actually u can check ur codes in the drive way follow the sticky at the top

heres the link
codes

 

on-off-on-off-on trick with the key, a code or codes will pop up followed by the word dONE in the odometer. write those codes down and compare them to the OBD code sticky at the top of this thread

 

Sounds kinda like how mine went... Just shifted down and stayed there and then BLEW up asI was getting off the highway! If you can, check that code and if it's something with the tranny, DO NOT drive it...

 

Got the codes:

P1684 Metering Oil Pump Position Sensor Circuit Malfunction
P0320 Ignition/Distributor Engine Speed Input Circuit Malfunction
P0351 Ignition Coil A Primary/Secondary Circuit Malfunction
P0700 Transmission Control System Malfunction


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Chances are..the stuck in first gear thing is the "P0700 Transmission Control System Malfunction" right? I assume the ignition coils and oil pump thing have nothing to do with this particular problem.

Where do I go from here guys? Is there a way a guy can fix the control system ( I assume not since its probably all electronic ) or will I have to replace it? Is it a big job to replace? Is this the "Control Solenoid"? I looked at advance auto and they dont stock it.. what can I expect to pay for one of these? Sorry for all the questions..Thanks again :-(

 

i say u got two major codes p0320 and p0700 get it to ur mechanic asap don't drive it anywhere else..ur just about sol unless u have a spare tranny layin around

 

I have been googling for hours and it sounds like speed input and output sensors go bad and can cause this.. The speedometer still works but I read there are inputs and outputs and the INPUT could be the one causing the problem if the speedometer still works.. Does this sound probable? Do you think the speed input sensor is whats tripping the " P0320 Ignition/Distributor Engine Speed Input Circuit Malfunction " code?

Seems the p0700 code is just generic and doesnt tell specifics..which seems pretty useless to me!