locked out of 5th gear

[highlandgst]

Ok so i bought a tranny since mine blew and 1-4 all shift like butter . Reverse is stiff but you can get it in gear and out but with 5th gear you cannot get it in at all . Any ideas ?

 

[96ETT]

Was it used? Sounds like the reason it was for sale, for probably a good deal

 

[highlandgst]

yes it was used and by someone on tuners
either way ... this is not a useful subject I'm asking for a cause

 

[96ETT]

Well since you say reverse is kind of hard to use, maybe the shifter cables are not aligned or the bracket for them is bent slightly. Could also try a few rounds of new fluid to flush any moisture or anything out of there. Other than that open it up or get it rebuilt.

 

[luv2rallye]

Definately check the shift cables and their mounting bracket first.

Then some internal tranny possibilities are: 5th gear shift fork is very worn, 5th gear syncro is worn, intermediate shaft lock nut is loose (can check nut by removing end cover).

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=135874&d=1331769547

 

[highlandgst]

Definately check the shift cables and their mounting bracket first.

Then some internal tranny possibilities are: 5th gear shift fork is very worn, 5th gear syncro is worn, intermediate shaft lock nut is loose (can check nut by removing end cover).

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=111965&d=1280113943

thanks me and a fellow tuner are going to check all this come this weekend ill keep you all posted

 

[KuckFatrina]

I'm having the same problem but I cannot get into reverse. All other gears are fine. I even tried selecting it using the select levers on the tranny itself, but no luck. So it obviously isn't a shifter cable issue.

Also, the link doesn't work for me.

 

[luv2rallye]

I'm having the same problem but I cannot get into reverse. All other gears are fine. I even tried selecting it using the select levers on the tranny itself, but no luck. So it obviously isn't a shifter cable issue.

When the reverse idler teeth get rounded it becomes harder to shift into reverse. In this case sometimes if you let the clutch out just slightly (to where it just barely starts to grab) while trying to shift into reverse it will go.

 

[luv2rallye]

Also, the link doesn't work for me.

Link fixed.

 

[dmj]

Try this, unscrew the backup light switch and make sure the washer is there .If not put one in . This is a very common problem as lots of folks lose the washer or over tighten the backup light switch when reinstalling the trans which leads to 5th and reverse lockout. Shep trans has a FAQ answer on their site for this problem.

 

[EclipticalGS]

I would start by inspecting the shifting mechanism underneath the shifter boot for any slop or play. Have someone cycle through the gears while watching the shifter weight on the the tranny, inspect the shifter cable mount to tranny for any bends, correct mounting of the cable onto the mounting bracket itself. Then after inspecting where the shifter weight is 'trying' to move while your accomplice attempts engaging 5th/Rev, try to manually rotate the shifter weight into 5th/rev. (This can be done by pulling the shifter weight up and twisting clockwise into 5th, or pulling up and counter clockwise into rev, make sure accomplise has clutch depressed at the time.) If it is still a No-Go, make sure the fluid is filled to the precise level. Next check the reverse backup switch for the correct washer that's supposed to be under there, replace and test if washer is not present. After this, lift up the front end of the car and secure with jackstands, pull the 5 or 6 bolts off of the 5th/rev cover. It is the farthest cover on the passenger end of the transmisson. (edit: about a qt of fluid will drain get drainpan ready.) What you want to inspect (while the car is in neutral) is the (2) main/intermediate shaft end nuts that hold the whole gear clusters together are tight and are not finger loose. There will be dimples on this nut that were struck with a punch to secure it onto the shaft after tourqing but if your tranny has a lot of wear you will be able to slightly rotate these two nuts. If they are loose, the tranny may have to come out for inspection and worst case rebuild. If the nuts are tight try to grab the gear/syncro/fork and wiggle it to check for play, and if there isn't any noticable slop or wear on the reverse idler gear, or the syncro face/teeth, have the accomplise then try to shift the transmission into 5th/rev while watching the shifter fork and shifter rail. If it seems as if there is some binding going on or the shifter fork does not move with the rail, you may have a roll pin broken or a lot of wear. Also the type of fluid I recommend is oem Mitsubishi EVO transaxle fluid, or Redline MT90 as I personally have never had luck with GM Syncromesh.
Good luck and tell us what you find in there.

 

[Boosted DSM 32]

This is weird the same thing happend to me about a week ago! i got home from work took a shower and when i went and got back in the car to go get food i tried to put it in reverse and it wouldnt go and noticed 5th wouldnt work either so me and my dad were looking at it and he was beating on where the cables go into the transmission and it completly locked out all of the gears, so then i started the car up and noticed it was in reverse, and i ripped it out of reverse and go it into neutral and put in through all the gears a couple times and it has worked flawlessly ever since? how is that even possible? im so confused on the problems were having??

 

[EclipticalGS]

This is weird the same thing happend to me about a week ago! i got home from work took a shower and when i went and got back in the car to go get food i tried to put it in reverse and it wouldnt go and noticed 5th wouldnt work either so me and my dad were looking at it and he was beating on where the cables go into the transmission and it completly locked out all of the gears, so then i started the car up and noticed it was in reverse, and i ripped it out of reverse and go it into neutral and put in through all the gears a couple times and it has worked flawlessly ever since? how is that even possible? im so confused on the problems were having??

Like I've said before in your thread it could've been a temporary binding issue somewhere in your shifting mechanism and you'll be fine, or that your main and intermediate shaft is so loose it'll just take that one hard shift in the near future that snaps a roll pin off your shifter fork. An easy way to rule out proposition number 2 is to check the play of the 5th/rev cluster by simply removing the 5th/rev inspection cover and check the torque on the two nuts or see if there is any in/out play parralel to the shaft the gears ride on.

Just a suggestion as I thought I was fine as well but a little later it took that one wrong shift with all that side to side play, my shifter fork bound up from the slop, and my rail kept going. Doesn't take much to snap a roll pin, but as stated before you can't say for sure until proper inspection is done.

 

[highlandgst]

ok so im pretty sure my backup switch doesnt have a washer on it can that really cause this issue i mean I can go into reverse its alittle stiff but absolutely no 5th gear

 

[luv2rallye]

check the play of the 5th/rev cluster by simply removing the 5th/rev inspection cover...

Remember to drain the tranny first from the normal drain plug (or you will drain it the hard way by the inspection cover).

 

[EclipticalGS]

Remember to drain the tranny first from the normal drain plug (or you will drain it the hard way by the inspection cover).

You won't drain near as much fluid with just pulling the cover, about a qt of fluid will drain from there also the OP said he just installed tranny so wasting 2 good quarts of fluid for a whim would be distasteful

OP right from sheptrans website

" After my rebuild I can't get my car into reverse but will go into 1st through 5th? The most common problem is that the reverse light switch is over tightened or missing the washer underneath the switch. Simply remove the switch and replace the washer"

Doesn't seem like your symptom but it never hurts to have the correct things in place.

 

[highlandgst]

Also there is a white block that was with the trans that was to be put in . Now My buddy from tuners put my trans in and he said he put the block in , but by any chance if he didnt and it fell out would that lock me out of just 5th ?

 

[highlandgst]

It was the washer missing ironicly cool cool thanks guys