Perry 951

This has happened a few times before, but now.. I am pretty much stuck.

Every once in a while, I cannot get my car into reverse. I can use all other gears just fine, and I can get the shifter over to the right, but not down into the gear. I know there is a gate on reverse, so is there a chance it is sticking closed, or whatever operates it does not push it open? I am pretty dumb when it comes to trannies.

There are times, when it sticks, where I can sit with the car not running and go from 1st to reverse a few times, and it opens the gate. This time, I tried everything I could think of for about 1/2 hour, and nothing. No reverse.

Any tips would be appreciated.

Perry 951

Serious.. NO REVERSE!!!! Back to the top with this.

Granite 944

Hi Perry, I'm sure no expert, but I experienced some trouble with getting mine into reverse, but after re-adjusting the linkage of the shifter rod on top of the transaxle, the problem got much better, and even helped with the other shift gates also. Does your shifter lever lean to one side when placed in neutral? If so, yours could probably use some adjustment also.
HTH

89magic98

Occasionally, when I can't get it into reverse, I need to return the gearshift to neutral, release the clutch, re-engage it, then put it into reverse.

The other trick I have done is proceeding from 3rd to reverse (with the car stopped of course).

But I think my "feature" is different from yours. In my case, I am getting the lever most of the way into reverse, it's just not fully engaged. Can you even get the gearshift lever moved from the "center" position between 5th and reverse? Does it not move past that center point towards reverse?

Kevin

SoCal Driver

Worn shifter pin. Possibly a loose cross link bolt over the top of the trans.

Perry 951

All linkages are new and HOPEFULLY still tight and adjusted to spec.

Shift lever is dead center. I can get it all the way over to the right (shifting to 5th is no problem), but I cannot get it to go down into reverse at all. The lever does not seem to bind anywhere, and it is tight as usual with no slop.

So... is there a lockout gate that prevents accidental shifting into reverse? I know many cars have it, and I would assume the 944 does as well. I am thinking I may have a problem with it.

Unfortunately, where I am parked, I have no way out but reverse, and it's uphill backwards, so no pushing. Sigh...

iloveporsches

There is a lock-out on these cars. I think it locks it out if you put it in fifth, so you don't accidently downshift into reverse. When that happens to me I usually need to put it in first and then try again. HTH.

944*b*bad

i would just get in there and try messing around with it some more, try letting the car roll forward a little bit an then let the clutch out and then re-engage it and try to slip it in there....i dunno man.....

Scootin159

this happens almost every time on mine....it's 'cuz reverse has no syncros. You could pull as hard as you want & it won't go into reverse. I notice it especially when I park & leave it in 1st & then try shifting into reverse before moving again.

Just put the shifter into neutral, let out on the clutch (just a second at idle is enough), and then you should be able to shift into reverse with no effort at all.

nine-44

Pop the clutch and see if you can get it with the gears still free rolling. Of course push the clutch before you drop it in gear, but pop it and get the gear rolling, see if it help them to line up?????

SidViscous

NOt only does it not have synchros, it is also straight cut gears and not helicals. That's the reason for the whine in reverse.

Interesting story. When I first started for Segway I was "taught" the basics behind it. I basically got the media spiel. They made a big deal about using helical gears. After about the fifth time mentioning it in an hour I raised my hand.

"Why do you keep mentioning helical gears."
"It an interesting technological inovation."
"...That's been used in automobiles since about 1912." I said.

I often heard people mention it in differnet circumstances over the next year (You don't hear so much anymore), certain people would give me a dirty look while saying it, if I was inthe vicinity.

Epic2112

does helical mean that the teeth are sort of curved with regard to the axis of the gear?

Techno Duck

Interesting, learning alot from this thread. I ALWAYS wondered why stickshift cars made that cool noise going in reverse.

Scootin159

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/transmission.htm

You may all find that link pretty interesting. Has some good animations and explains the whole reverse gear, syncronizers, helical gears & straight-cut gears pretty good.

Perry 951

Well.. rolling it, popping the clutch, idle, redline, nothing, nada, no dice.

I crawled under it as best as I could to check the linkages, all was good. I tapped lightly on the main shaft with a hammer thinking it might allow the gate to open, and it did.

So.... there is a physical lockout on reverse, and mine sticks. How do I repair it without busting open the tranny?