1996 Dodge Neon from North America - Comments

Over all the car is an upgrade from my previous car. There are although a few things wrong with this car.

One of the major problems I have is that the speedometer works when it feels like it, which makes the odometer not work. The second, is that the fuel gauge doesn't work. Its either full or empty with no inbetween. Probably the most annoying problem is that something leaks when it rains and the floors become a small swimming pool. It hasn't rusted a hole in the floor yet because the water doesn't leak out, though I'm expecting it any time now.

There is a slight bumping in the tires. Not from any dents or anything, just because it feels like bumping.

The car doesn't handle all that bad for having stiff steering. Looks nice when washed. Not a cheap looking car when it's in working order.

I have a 1996 Neon, 2 door. I have some of the same problems you are having... gas gauge being either full or empty and the speed odometer not working at all now. Has been this way since I purchased the car used, a year and a half ago.

Lynn in NC.

I am having the same problem with water when it rains. I get water in the trunk and then it runs onto the floor of the back seat. Have tried to find the leak, but to no avail.

I have a 96 Dodge Neon, it basically runs well, but I have the same problem. When it rains the water runs in through the trunk & onto the rear passenger floor, the gas gauge either reads full or empty & the speedometer works off & on.

I have a 1996 Dodge neon, my car does the same thing also. Gas gauge will go completely empty, and speedometer work off and on, it can be very annoying, I am trying to find a way to get it fixed though.

Actually believe it or not the speedometer problem is an easy fix. You'll need to remove the instrument cluster, but this is actually a lot easier than it sounds. If you pop the top cover off of the dash and remove it (just put a screwdriver underneath it and pry up gently on both the driver and passenger side) this gives you access to the instrument panel.

Take out the 4 screws that hold the panel in place and just pop it right out of the dash. Then take it over to workbench (or inside if your like me and doing this stuff in your driveway) and remove the screws that hold the dust cover in place over the circuit board (these require an allen wrench btw).

Then take all the screws that hold the circuit board in place to the instrument panel, and remove the board.

Flip it over, you'll see two rows of 6 connectors on each side - this is where the connectors that plug into the dash connect to the circuit board.

Take a soldering iron and heat each one of these connectors until the solder melts and changes color, it only takes a few seconds per connector. Once you've done all the connectors, just put the instrument panel back together and go plug it back into your dash. Replace the top cover and your all set, your speedometer and other gauges will work great with no further problems.

You can find another description of this repair and pictures of the circuit board with the connections you need to resolder highlighted here:

http://www.neons.org/modules/news/article.php?storyid=18.

I own two neons and have had to do this to both of them, haven't had a gauge problem with either since.

The gauge trick above also works on 2nd gen neons. I had a 2003 neon se that the speedo and tach was not working. I tryed this out on it. the only differance is all the pins are in the middle instead of being split between sides.