just picked up my car tonight and i now cant get the thing into reverse, its happened a couple times now and now it just wont go in. The first time i EVENTUALLY got it into reverse now it wont go in at all, stock shifter on it. Also it will make some grinding type vibration noises when i floor it at low RPMs in like 3rd and 5th gear i beleive but ive heard thats normal. what should i do, what could be causing it, hope it doesnt already need a rebuild. I have a hurst shifter sitting in the car just not installed, any help is appreciated

thanks
danny hollis

 

Sounds like a bad reverse synchro. Does it go into reverse with engine off, key in ON position, but wont go in with engine running? If so, chances are bad reverse synchro. I had the same problem, turns out I also had 2 bad bearings in the tranny, but all other synchros, blocker rings, gears, bearings were in great condition, so shop just replaced what was necessary.

 

man i have a bad synchro already, thats wonderful. Oh well i shouldve expected that with my luck. Oh well do i need a full rebuild? It shifts in reverse everynow and then, but not often enough and i can put it in reverse with the car off
everyother gear seems to shift fine. let me know

thanks
danny hollis

 

I'd start with a good ole' tranny fluid change. Get some Mobil 1 synthetic. See if that changes things.

Also, before switching to reverse, shift it into 3rd, then 4th, then reverse... try that and see if it works..

 

what madwolf said

 

Before you spend any cash check the tranny an make sure everything is plugged in. I put a skip shift in the wrong spot once and the car would not go into reverse.

 

If it is anything electronic (which not going into reverse would be the reverse lockout solenoid not disengaging), you still can get it into reverse. Just have to push a little harder.

If it won't go in with a hard push, then it isn't the lockout solenoid....trust me, that thing isn't THAT strong.

 

Try raising the clutch petal... on my car I had the same problems.

My buddie's LS1 was doing the same thing from the factory, raised his petal about 1/2 and inch and it stopped crunching and reverse got easier... just like what happened on my car.

 

update so far,

the car will go into reverse MUCH more frequently now. It will now go in probably 1/2 to 2/3s of the time that i need it. But it seems to start getting harder to put into reverse the longer i drive it. For example this morning when i went to go drive it it would go in cleanly and smoothly many times and the more i drove it it would slowly seem harder and harder to get it in, though it would normally go in most of the time. WHat do you guys think?

please let me know and all help is very appreciated
thanks
danny hollis

 

The reverse solenoid lockout might be bad. Also make sure that the car is not moving when you put it into reverse, because i know on mine if i am moving at all it won't let me go into reverse.

 

where do i find the reverse lock out solenoid?

sorry im new to these cars i used to have a turbo buick so F-Bodys are all new to me

thanks
danny hollis

 

Danny, you can blame it on the centerforce clutch I am thinking. Considering it happens after it warms up. The synchoro is fine and the fluid is fresh. Always shift to first before going into reverse. The clutch is also fine (only 3k on it), but there are known problems with centerforce clutches after they warm up on these cars. It has to do with its inherent design and clearance issues to the flywheel. The aftermarket shifter for some reason helped a lot when I had it installed, and I never even really considered it a problem. You will get the NORMAL vibrations much more pronounced with the aftermarket shifter due to the lack of the isolator bushing though. I just want to make sure you know the tranny is not about to explode or anything like that

Do a search on centerforce clutches and you will understand a little better. The good thing is the centerforce clutch on your car does not have any serious problems like some other have experienced (other than the reverse issue you are having). That clutch held up fine to over 450 h.p.

 

thanks kevin, as always i appreciate it

im gonna put the hurst in probably tonight or tomorow night

thanks again for everything

seeya

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