Auto enthusiasts? Mechanics? HELP!

[Simon]

Ok, stupid kid asking stupid question

I almost settled on my car.

It's a 96 Neon, 2 door, 5 speed manual.

About 90K on the road.

Car runs great, can't get no odd noises. Brakes are good. Oil changed regularly. NO rust or dents.

Only thing that kida weirds me out - when I shift into 3rd, it doesn't ... er... 'shift smoothly'. All other gears check out fine - just that when I shift into 3rd and I let the clutch go, it shifts real weird and the revs go down... like if I shifted from 2nd to 4th or something. Also think there's some weird vibrations from the hood when that happens.

The clutch works fine - even when I work it on a gradient. The engine sounds good and works fine. It's just the shifting into 3rd that's freaking me out.

Any ideas guys? I'm spending $2000 on the car guys - I don't want my transmission or something to fall apart three months from now.

[DeathTöngue]

Dunno about New York, but here you have the right to have your car checked out by your own mechanic before buying. What you describe sounds to me like you may be shifting too early, but who knows? Take it to a transmission shop and invest in a checkout before you own the problem.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by DeathTöngue

Dunno about New York, but here you have the right to have your car checked out by your own mechanic before buying. What you describe sounds to me like you may be shifting too early, but who knows? Take it to a transmission shop and invest in a checkout before you own the problem.

So a transmission shop is different from just a regular mechanic? I'm kinda sure I'm not shifting early. Just to be sure, I shifted once while keeping my eyes on the Tachymeter (you can just tell from the growl of the engine - but just to be sure, I checked the Tach as well).

I intend to take it to a mechanic anyways. Thanks DT

Just curious - how expensive can tranny problems be?

[DeathTöngue]

As much as you're paying for the car, or more. I recommend a transmission shop for that sort of thing simply because trannys are a specialty.

[sdaze]

Manual transmission problems aren't too expensive. A clutch job could be upwards of $300. If it was an automatic transmission, I'd say forget it. Unfortunately, the problem you have doesn't sound like the clutch, because all gear changes would be weird. If there's a problem with the gear box, then you could be looking at a hefty bill.

[Simon]

Wow!

Ok, thought I ought to put this in too --- when I was test driving the car, the seller told me that he's in the process of having the exhaust system cleaned out and that to do so the mechanic had fiddled with the EGR valve (whatever the devil that is).

Could this be having any impact on me current troubles?

If I'm going to have to spend even 1000 on tranny issues - to hell with this car! I don't have that kind of money to toss around!

[sdaze]

You might want to check out this site.

http://www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_30391.html

[Simon]

Originally Posted by sdaze

You might want to check out this site.

http://www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_30391.html

Thanks much for that link:

I own a 96 single overhead cam dodge neon. I bought it with 55,000 miles on it. It has done just great until recently, the transmission is acting up. It goes up to 8 and 9 thousand rpm before it will change out of any gear.

SOunds somewhat like the car I'm looking at. I'll be more careful when I drive it today to the mechanic

Once again, thank you all for your help

[Axe victim]

Now if you were in the Uk, the conversation would go something like this....

You: "Any ideas what the problems is"?
Mechanic: * sharp intake of breath through teeth* "Oooh, it's probably your gear box mate".
You: "Gear box eh?"
Mechanic: "Yeah, you're Neon's are notorious for that"
You: "Yeah?"
Mechanic" Yeah, ask anyone in the trade, anyone'll tell you to avoid 'em like the plague"
You: " ..but I just bought it from you"
Mechanic: "Well it was Ok when you bought it from me"
You: "..but that was only ten minutes ago?"
Mechanic: "yeah tricky things yer gear box in the Neon..ask anyone in the trade."
You: "...so will you fix it"?
Mecahnic: "'fraid its not covered under the warranty".
You: "So how much to fix it"?
Mecahnic: *sharp intake of breath through his teeth* "oooooh, difficult to say...but I can tell you, you wont have much change out of £1000"
You: .".but thats what I paid for the car"!
Mechanic: "It's the cost of the labour thats the real expense....not an easy job to fit...ask anyone in the trade".
You: " so what's the option"?
Mechanic: " wellllllll....I'll take it off your hand for £200..but I'm robbing myself"

[sdaze]

lol... tragic, but true

[Mark Dwyer]

Originally Posted by Simon

Wow!

Ok, thought I ought to put this in too --- when I was test driving the car, the seller told me that he's in the process of having the exhaust system cleaned out and that to do so the mechanic had fiddled with the EGR valve (whatever the devil that is).

!

Usually when the EGR is bad the check engine or service engine soon lite will come on.I am not an expert on trans or car's period but with that said I'd like to add this,look around for another car.If the car is already a problem and you haven't even bought it whats gonna happen when its your's?Also good advice is to get a trans person to check it out for you but be careful an old mecanic friend of mine says they are all thieves.Also you might be losing a gear if all the others are fine.Look around used cars are like guitar players there everwhere and not all them are good.Good luck.

[Axe victim]

I'm interested to know what the standard of service is from mechanics in the USA? I went to a garage here and asked them to look at my car ( which they were supposed to have fixed) and the guy say " do you have an appointment"? I said to him " what are you...a hairdresser"?

[Mark Dwyer]

Half of them probably be better off being hairdressers.And so would the rest of us poor unsuspecting customers.

[Botley]

NEON = LEMON

Don't buy them, my friends and family have all been disappointed by them.

[Simon]

Well it would seem DT was probably right. I took it for a long spin today and the gears clicked perfectly OK. Not one mis-shift anywhere.

I think the problem last time around was that it was dark, night time and I'd had a long day. Plus it's been a year since I drove a manual - so maybe I was a little rusty.

Chalk it upto bad-shift/shifting-too-early because the car drove beautiful today

It's a '96 Neon Expresso. The guy just finished his safety and emissions test for July - so the car is inspected upto July next year.

But the more I drive it around, the more confident I feel. Doesn't feel like a lemon in anyway