Having shifting problems with your 95-05 Dodge/Plymouth Neon with manual transmission ?
We get calls often at Modern Performance from 1995-2005 Dodge/Plymouth Neon owners who have problems getting their manual transmission into gear, or even into reverse.
Sometimes, these problems can arise from shifter problems, but a very high percentage of Neon owners have problems with their manual transmission shift linkage bushings.
To better understand explain the problem, lets start out with the basics. Every manual transmission Neon has a shifter assembly inside the car, and two shift linkage cables attached onto it. The shift linkage cables go through the firewall and attach onto the transmission. The shift linkage cables are made out of steel, but the end of the shift linkages have rubber bushings that fail over time. Over time, your shifter will start to feel more and more mushy, and it will be more difficult to get the transmission into gear.
Heres a photo showing the shifter and the cables which are under the center console. The shifter bushings are pointed to in red, and the shift linkages are pointed to with yellow arrows.
Now, if you go to the dealership and try to buy replacement bushings, they arent sold seperately so you have to buy new shifter cables which will cost $130+! The solution to fix this, is with a product called Booger Bushings. Booger bushings are a set of four bushings that replace the two shifter bushings inside the car, and the two shifter bushings on the transmission.
Here are the Booger bushings:
Here is a photo of the same shifter above, with the Booger bushings installed on the shifter assembly.
Here is a photo of the transmission with the booger bushings installed.
Link to booger bushings on our website for more details:
http://www.modernperformance.com/booger-shift-linkage-bushings-9505-neon-cruiser-p-1681.html
Just for fun, heres a photo of a Neon where the shifter bushing disintegrated and fell off the car. This Neon still drove, but the driver would have a very hard time getting the car into gear!
Link to booger bushings on our website for more details:
http://www.modernperformance.com/booger-shift-linkage-bushings-9505-neon-cruiser-p-1681.html
