Hi,
Ive been having a problem with my neon....its a 97 auto and when i take off from a stop i get a shaking feeling and noise when it shifts.....It almost feels like its slipping......but it only does it when im taking off and shifting from first to second and second to third.....Once im rolling it works fine......Any Ideas? Any help or advice is appreciated......Cheers

 

change the fluid and filter. use ATF+4 only for the fluid. you will need 4.5 quarts for a simple fluid drain, even though the system holds 8+ you wont be able to get it all out of the torque converter unless you take it to a shop and have them pump it out. you can DIY for about $30 including the filter and it probably will get rid of your shuddering/shifting issues. its the first thing i would do. you can get the filter at any auto parts store. a new pan gasket should come with the filter. its real easy to do, so if you dont know how and you want to try, just ask and i or someone here will help you.

 

thanks im gonna try that tommorow......if this does not work could it be something more serious?.............. its kind of a rough shaking almost grinding like feeling....... and its only when im taking off and about to shift and its only in the lower gears (its a auto).....Anyways once again guys thanks for the advice........cheers

 

I have one more thing to add if im really really easy on the gas i can avoid it...........thanks

 

good luck....... yeah it could be serious, but i dont think so. the neon trannys need regular fluid/filter changes or they will suffer from shifting issues and what you describe sounds like you need a change ASAP. you wont know till you try and this is an easy/cheap solution. i bought a used 96 with a bad tranny according to the previous owner, but i knew the tranny probably just needed a filter and fluid, so i bought it anyway..... LOL i was right and i drove that neon for 2 long hard years, then i sold it to a friend and hes been driving it for a year just for work and so far no shifting issues.

 

where is the transmission fluid filter at?

 

its inside the tranny. when you take off the pan it is right there its held in by one or two screws. you should buy a hanyes manual, you seem like you could learn alot from it. its worth the 15 bucks

 

I had the exact SAME problem w/ my 2000 Neon which has an auto..I know its not good news but I had to get the trans rebuilt. I could also avoid the problem by accelerating very slowly. Good luck man!