flooding, not shifting, EGR

[tachyx]

This 95 Neon has transformed into a nightmare. I bought it used three years ago from a Dodge dealer. The head gasket went a month later and the dealer replaced it for free.

One day it died on the road while my mom was borrowing it, and she made her judgement to tow it to Sears where they charged me $800 to change all the sensors (O2, TPS, etc.) and check all the wiring.

It ran great for about two years, then the transmission quit shifting. Had it repaired by a tranny specialty place. It took them three tries to get it right. A year later, right after the repair warranty expired, the tranny quit shifting again.

The transmission in these Neons is supposed to be tough. I wanted this mechanic guy to swap the transmission, but then the engine computer died and so he just didn't do it.

I swapped out the engine computer and the CHECK ENGINE light came on with the code EGR. I replaced the EGR and cleared the code, but the code came back. Forget it for now.

I limped the car a few blocks to a different transmission specialty place. They rebuild it and during a test drive, it fails again. They say my radiator is full of metal bits so they install a separate tranny cooler.

They give it back to me, and I'm driving a couple blocks and the car's not shifting and when I stop at a red light, it stalls. So I turn around a bring it right back.

They replace all the sensors both O2, TPS (again) and etc. clean the carbon out of the exhaust paths, including the path to the EGR which was clogged. Clean the spark plugs which were covered with carbon. No check engine light comes on when these sensors fail and they clog everything with carbon when they fail? It was a mess.

In any case, the transmission still won't do third unless it's in a good mood, and now it has a starting problem.

If you don't hold the key until it's fully started it won't start. It really won't start. It acts like it's flooded and even if you hold the gas to the floor it takes a while to get it going. Once it's going, it's fine. As long as you hold the key until it starts it runs fine.

I replaced the EGR again, but the code came back again. I tried cleaning it out with carb cleaner and it went away for a couple of days and while idling at a red light, the car vibrated a bit and the EGR code came back again. I blocked off the EGR temporarily, but it has no effect on the starting or shifting problems.

1) What is with these stupid EGR valves?

2) Why does the car not start, act like it's flooded?

3) Why doesn't it shift into third at 70mph?

Thanks,
tachyx