High RPMs

Ive noticed lately that my car has been running high Rpms when Im doing higway speed. Like at 60 it runs at 3000 and by the time Im to 70 it has hit about 3500. I figured it might not be very good for the gas mileage. I have a 95 Sport with an Auto. Any help would be good.

sticky throttle maybe? Does it have overdrive? if so, maybe it isn't going into OD.

No, there is no Overdrive. I know its a 3 speed but it still seem odd for the car to shift at 20, then 40, and its already in last gear. It just seems like driving at a constant 3200 RPMs would burn more gas and wouldnt live up to the 30 MPG it says it will.

well, mine runs in 5th gear at about 3000 at 70 miles per hour, so it really isn't that uncommon, I don't think. Besides, 3000 really isn't that bad, since neons redline at 6500-ish.

Check to see if the torque convertor lockup solenoid is working.

I've never driven an 3-speed Neon with a tach, so I don't know what a reasonable engine speed is, but 3500 @70 mph seems a bit high.

Count the number of times the RPM changes. There should be two shifts and another lowering of RPM when the T/C locks up.

I have no idea what that is so I wouldnt know how to go about doing so. Can you explain how to a little maybe?

I'm 99% sure that hooking up a professional-level computer code reader will tell you if there is lockup. Otherwise, I'd have to look it up in my service manual, which I don't have right now. I'll try to remember to look it up...

wouldn't that mean that the check engine light would be on, though? And by the way, I had an automatic 1992 Ford Tempo, and it shifted exactly at 20 and 40, when I wasn't accelerating hard.

wouldn't that mean that the check engine light would be on, though?

Good point. But codes don't always trip a CEL. If you check the codes, and it reads a code 37 (looked it up :P ), you've got a "37 Torque converter clutch solenoid CKT or park/neutral switch failure".

I'm not sure about a 3 speed trans, but my 4 speed has been repaired twice by dodge for that reason. It was the front pump in the trans?, but guess what it still jumps 2 or 3 hundred rpm at a steady 110 klms. It's back to the shop for me again. Your car should run at about 2300 rpm at 65 miles per hr. or 100 klms. Good luck.