Hey everyone
First of all i have a 1996 Dodge Neon - 2.0 SOHC engine with and automatic trasmission.
Over the last couple weeks i have had a problem with what seemed to be the transmission not shifting down into first gear. I live in Wisconsin and it only seems to happen when it is very cold out, below 32 degrees F. I am pretty good about letting the car warm up for a minute or two before driving away from my spot. The problem only happens when i slow down to take a corner, slowing down to about 5 to 10 mph - upon acceleration the car has alway downshifted into first and away i went, now it was still in second (im assuming) with no power, taking very long to get up to speed. Once the car is driven for awhile it operates perfectly (once it is warmed up). The fluid is at the correct level and i have not noticed any red leak spots under the car. Heres what happened today. I have had the car for about two years and it has always slowly dripped oil from in between the engine and tranny. Not a major leak about a quart every 6-8 weeks. (i know this isnt good for the car but it is just my winter "beater" and was never bad enough of a problem for me to fix). Anyways as i was driving the vehicle today i was approaching a stop slowing down from about 35 mph i heard a metallic clanging noise coming from the engine bay, once i got to the stop sign i got out and looked underneath and red tranny fluid was pouring out from inbetween the engine and tranny. I was only about a block away from the house and i motored home quick. After jacking up the car and investigating i did not notice any holes in the transmission itself or any broken lines. I poured about a quart of fluid into the tranny and turned the engine on with the car in park. The engine sounded normal with no leaks anywhere, and it idled for a minute or two.Then i put the car into drive (with the tires spinning up on jackstands) and the fluid poured out onto the floor for about 30 seconds with no noise then the noise started. The best way i can describe it is a metal clanging like you are hitting the tranny itself with a metal hammer. Then i shut the engine off. I did not hit anything while driving the vehicle. What im wondering is, is this just a seal or a major transmission problem. The car has 129,000 miles. The previous owner had the transmission replaced at around 80,000 miles with a used transmission of about the same mileage. Ive heard a main seals going badcausing engine oil to leak inbetween the engine and tranny but i do not know if that same seal holds in tranny fluid as well? Please let me know what you guys think. Thanks a lot!
-mike

 

the rear main seal only holds in oil...its actually the rear crankshaft seal.....

you might have put a crack in the inside bell housing....but the only way to be certain is to pull the tranny out....

where exactly do you live in wisconsin???

 

Would the tranny make a great deal of inconsistent metallic sounding clangingafterit has run itself out of fluid? Or is this more than likely a sign of internal damage. The car did engage into reverse and shifted smoothly through the gears as i was driving it home after noticing the leak.

Other than that iguess the next step is to pull the tranny. I am pretty handy with a wrenchand have replaced entire engines beforebut i have never replaced a tranny. People i talk to say it is different for every car. Is it very difficult to replace a tranny on a 96 neon? I have read that you can drop the tranny out through the bottom without removing the engine, is this true?

I live in west bend - about a half an hour north of milwaukee.

thanks
-mike

 

anyone?

 

The tranny does come out through the bottom smoothly. You can leave the engine in the car. I just finished ripping the bad tranny out. Once i had it sitting on the garage floor i started inspecting it. Sure enough on the inside of the tranny behind the torque converter was a big hole. It was on the side of the tranny nearest to where the drive axels attach to it. Next step is finding a decent used tranny.......

 

All back together and running smooth. Found a used tranny, 65k for 200 bucks. Also, replaced the rear main seal and axel seals and now it doesnt leak a drop of fluid.