Transmission replacement issue - Dodge Neon DIY

calvin89

So here's the deal. My transmission was on it's way out so I bought a replacement online for around $1000 bucks. I thought it would be a great idea to put it in myself. I have had to take the new one out twice so far. The first time was to replace the front pump seal. I was afraid if it didn't it might void the warranty. So anyways I put it back in and I couldn't get all of the torque converter bolts in. I managed two of them. So I thought that the tc wasn't fully seated to the front pump. So I dropped it again. It's back in for the third time and I can still only get two of the tc bolts in. One is really close and when you turn the crank pulley it jumps into place for a slit second. The other is about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch off. The torque converter in indexed( the flexplate has a hole that matches up to a marking on the tc.) So I wanna know what am I missing here? Is there a trick or something? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
After dropping the transmission 3 times including the old one, having to replace the radiator due to rust, stripping a few bolts and nuts and one in the tranny oil pan, and replacing the serpentine belts. My advice to anyone out there: either get someone to do the big jobs and pay up or count your losses and take it to the junk yard. Totally not worth it.

thecardoc3

The torque convertor and the flexplate (flywheel) are synchronized for balancing purposes. When the bolts don't line up, you have to take them back out, turn the convertor to the next bolt boss and try again. If they still don't line up, then try turning the convertor another 90 degrees. Worst case, you might have to try fur times to get all of the bolt holes to line up.

When we pull a transmission and we are going to reassemble with the same parts we use a dab of paint on the flexplate and the convertor to assist lining these back up. When you replace one or the other, then you need to transfer your line-up marks to the new components before you assemble. But turning it as I described does work.

calvin89

I managed to get it up and running. The circle stamped on the tc confused me. I thought it was a indexing mark from the factory, but it didn't have to line up at all..... Anyways I have a new problem. The "new" transmission is doing the same thing as the old one. Shifting hard mostly from 1st to 2nd(every time) . The other gears shift hard, but not as often and not as hard. I thought the problem in the old trans was a bad shift solenoid. But newish trans means newish solenoid. Any ideas here?

thecardoc3

Have you connected a scan tool and checked for codes? Has anyone gone into the data stream and looked at the adaptives to see how the transmission control module was modifying the shift commands? (clutch fill volume)

Has anyone performed a relearn of the system with the installation of the transmission? This is done with a scan tool and it is in the miscellaneous functions menu.