# 2003 Dodge Neon - felt like the e-brake was on **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** neon, dodge\ **Created:** [February 20, 2021, 11:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-dodge-neon-felt-like-the-e-brake-was-on/175323 "2021-02-20T23:43:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Roland10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8c91f0/32.png) [@Roland10](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roland10)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2021, 11:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-dodge-neon-felt-like-the-e-brake-was-on/175323/1 "2021-02-20T23:43:12Z")
My car is a SX 2.0 sport. 2003 With around 95,000 km. It started shifting harder than usual, I didn’t pay much attention to that until one day on a main hwy. I had to pull off for some reason, when getting back on the hwy. the car suddenly felt like I hit the brake or hit something. I had it towed home. After the tow truck left I wanted to move the car, started it up put in D stepped on the gas and it started to bog down. In R same thing, tried in Low wouldn’t move I gave up. It seemed just like the E brake was on. Any suggestions, or Ideas what might be causing this.??? ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2021, 10:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-dodge-neon-felt-like-the-e-brake-was-on/175323/2 "2021-02-21T22:05:58Z")
Offhand it sounds like transmission trouble. Have it towed to a good independent transmission shop for a diagnosis. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 2:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-dodge-neon-felt-like-the-e-brake-was-on/175323/3 "2021-02-22T14:49:43Z")
Sounds to me like a sticking brake. This can be caused by a bad caliper or failing brake hoses. It could also be a failing wheel bearing. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 1:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-dodge-neon-felt-like-the-e-brake-was-on/175323/4 "2021-02-23T01:14:07Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > Sounds to me like a sticking brake. Certainly a possibility and 'way cheaper than a new transmission. ---
**Author:** ![Roland10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8c91f0/32.png) [@Roland10](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roland10)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 2:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-dodge-neon-felt-like-the-e-brake-was-on/175323/5 "2021-02-23T02:54:12Z")
that is something I was going to check out but the snow got everything covered so bad, I’ll have to wait now for spring. Thank you for the sugge ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 3:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-dodge-neon-felt-like-the-e-brake-was-on/175323/6 "2021-02-23T03:11:43Z")
> [@Roland10](#): > > I had it towed home. On a flat bed wrecker? If it rolled up and down the flat bed there isn’t a brake problem. > [@Roland10](#): > > started it up put in D stepped on the gas and it started to bog down. What is the highest reading on the tachometer? If the engine speed can reach 1500 RPMs and the car won’t move, there is a transmission problem (the engine should be capable of reaching 2200 RPMs if pushed hard enough). ---
**Author:** ![Roland10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8c91f0/32.png) [@Roland10](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roland10)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 11:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-dodge-neon-felt-like-the-e-brake-was-on/175323/7 "2021-02-23T23:35:38Z")
Thank you for your input, I need lots of ideas before I do anything that is going to cost a lot of money. which I don’t have anyway.😀