The mid 1990s brought about the end of various Chrysler vehicles – most notably the Dodge Shadow, the Plymouth Sundance and the Colt, which was sold under both brand names. Enter stage left: the Dodge Neon. This little prospective track car hit the streets in 1995 to replace the aforementioned nameplates. The first generation of the Neon lasted until 1999, but this generation has a hefty following among amateur racers. The second and final generation of the Neon ran through the 2005 model year, but wasn’t quite as popular as a whole compared to the first generation. All 2000-to-2005 Dodge Neons with the automatic have a transmission control module that controls the transmission. On your vehicle it is behind the front bumper cover, on the passenger side.
Install a memory saver device according to its manufacturer’s instructions. Open the hood and support it. Remove the negative battery cable from the battery, using a battery wrench.
Loosen the lug nuts on the front, passenger tire with a lug wrench. Raise the front end with a floor jack. Place a jack stand under each subframe rail, just In front of the rearmost control arm mount. Lower the front end onto the jack stands.
Remove the front, passenger-side tire from the vehicle. Remove the screws that secure the wheel well liner to the body, using a Phillips screwdriver. Remove the two screws that attach the bottom, front of the liner to the bumper splash shield. Pull back the wheel well lining enough to access the transmission control module.
Loosen the bolt for the TCM wiring harness connector with a nut driver, then disconnect the wiring harness from the TCM and set it aside. Remove the three bolts that secure the TCM and its bracket to the vehicle with a socket and ratchet. Remove the screws for the TCM bracket and then remove the bracket from the TCM.
Position a new TCM in the TCM bracket and install the retaining screws. Tighten the screws to 105 inch-pounds with a torque wrench. Install the TCM and bracket to the vehicle and tighten the bolts to 105 inch-pounds. Plug the wiring harness into the TCM, then tighten the bolt to 35 inch-pounds.
Push the wheel well splash shield into place, then install and snug the screws. Install the wheel and tire onto the wheel hub, then snug the lug nuts. Lower the front end to the ground.
Install the negative battery cable and tighten it to 72 inch pounds. Disconnect the memory saver device. Drive the vehicle to your local Dodge dealer to have the pinion factor and quick relearn procedure completed on the new TCM.
