No reverse manual tranny

[99gsFreddy]

Car was fine this morning. I got home and put it in reverse and it didn't engage. Tried for like 5 minutes or so and it finally engaged. Parked the car and decided to try to put it in reverse and it didn't engage!! It engages when the car is off though. Where should I start to determine the problem? Car is 99 gs.

 

[91-GS]

Was it making any noises as you were trying to engage? Does it do into all other gears fine? When it did go into reverse, did the car jerk any? Sounds like the clutch is not disengaging completly and is keeping the tranny spinning.

 

[99gsFreddy]

No. It just didn't want to engage. All other gears engage fine. No jerking. Previous owner said he replaced the clutch but I don't think he did a good job.

 

[91-GS]

Shif cables maybe? Still won't explain why it goes in fine with engine off.

 

[pitbull419]

Sounds like the syncros.

 

[99gsFreddy]

I'm gonna check the shift cables tomorrow. Would gear oil cause this? Car has 148k.

 

[spyderdrifter]

If all gear sets are meshing fine except for reverse, I would bet its the blocking ring that the syncho ring meshes with to engage your reverse gear set. Your cables being the problem is unlikely, but not impossible. Gear oil wouldn't make much of a difference. There's always chance that a broken piece could be lodged into the gears, preventing the synchro to slip into gear.

 

[91-GS]

Won't hurt to change the oil if it's been in there a while. Keep an eye on the oil, see if it flushes out any metal shavings or dirt.

 

[luv2rallye]

When the reverse idler teeth get rounded it becomes harder to shift into reverse. In this case, quite often if you let the clutch out to where it just barely starts to grab while trying to shift into reverse, it will slip in.

Worn reverse idler teeth: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=124774&d=1310159019.

 

[99gsFreddy]

Is there a write up on how to check the reverse idler gear and/or replace it?

 

[BoostedBeaver]

You can check out the three yellow post (7, 8 and 9) for a complete tear down and assembly. It will give you an idea of what you are looking at.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/dsm-build-journals/427853-1990-eagle-talon-sleeper.html

Just realized you are a 99gs so the breakdown will not actually be the same. The FSM will have a great break down and help you along the way. I have only had my hands in AWD trannies so I am not to sure how much different they are. Sorry and I hope that the link is still helpful.

Robert

Edit : Thanks to luv2rallye, you have a link to an actual 99 transmission rebuild.

 

[luv2rallye]

Is there a write up on how to check the reverse idler gear and/or replace it?

Check it as I said in post 9. Replacing it (or other serious tranny problems) means tearing apart the tranny which is not for the timid. Here's another excellent writeup with pictures on just rebuilding the tranny: Dre.

 

[CleverDSMusername]

When the reverse idler teeth get rounded it becomes harder to shift into reverse. In this case, quite often if you let the clutch out to where it just barely starts to grab while trying to shift into reverse, it will slip in.

Worn reverse idler teeth: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=124774&d=1310159019.

+2 on this, i have a 1g with this issue...its not all the time but when it does do it i usually ease out on the clutch & that generally works for abot 80% of the time, when thats doesn't work i'll let the car roll in neutral if i'm on a slope or stick in 1st to roll forward just a çunt hair & then try slipping into reverse with the clutch, now that has worked EVERY time if the simple clutch/slip-in fails to work.