I have a 1998 Neon. 2.2 SOHC I have been having intermittant transmission issues. Now while in drive the RPM's will soar and the car will not shift to third. I can shift manually from first to second, but in Drive RPM's just climb. I was told the tranny went into limp mode (No ECM Codes) It was suggested the shift control solenoid is bad? Where is it located? Does this sound right?

 

Here is the best way you can tell if your car's tranny has gone into "limp mode" or not: When you pull away from a stop sign or from a red light, does your car act as if it is in 2nd gear and has no get up and go? You don't feel a shift from 1st to 2nd and you have to wind-it-up just to get to 40 and then acts like it will go no faster even though you hear the engine whining hard? If the answer is yes, then you have a tranny gone bad and its rebuild or replace time. Limp mode is a permanent stick in 2nd gear that will allow you to get to the nearest shop. The tranny never shifts up or down, but stays in 2nd gear all the time. My former 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan (3.0L engine) had this happen once, and you never forget it when it does.

Now if your tranny shifts from 1st to 2nd and then won't shift into 3rd, then you may have a clogged filter, lack of enough fluid, a bad torque converter, worn out valve body, etc. etc.

Get thee to a tranny specialist and let them diagnose it for you. Quite a number of them will do so for free, just go to someone you trust.