Problems with reverse
 

Hi everyone,

Have a new 6MT GT and everything is really, really great EXCEPT about 20 per cent of the time i put it into reverse, i grind the gears terribly.

I'm doing everything right (I think), pushing the stick down, a hard pull to the right and down, till you feel it click into place.

Still, it's failing to engage in reverse way too often for my liking.

If this is happening once a day, how long before i've done some irreparable harm to my transmission?

I've done a search and not found anyone else with this problem, but if there're other threads out there, i'd love to read them or get your advice/thoughts.

Never had the problem. I usually let the engine speed drop off to almost idle before I shift into R.

I had this happen to me once. I was backing out of my gf's driveway and it grinded on me. I think it might not have been shifted into place all the way. Never happened since then as I've been careful to fully put the shifter in place.

Thanks for the replies. Doing everything you guys suggest, but it's still happening.

Can someone reassure me that the occasional grind isn't going to kill my tranny?

Or should I have this looked at?

Hey blue beach, I am still new to MT, but I've had the same problem. I thought I missed something and didn't get it in place well enough, but it's happened about 2-3 times in the one week that I've had the car. I could've sworn I do everything right, and then when I release the clutch, it just doesn't engage, and eventually there's a bit of grinding. I'm glad to know that it's not just me, but hopefully this problem goes away.

-arattle

It happened to me sometimes. I don't know why but what I do now is I shift into R and then put it back to N and then shift to R again. I've never had the problem since. :o

Hey, I'd take it in to the dealer -- especially if it happens nearly every time to shift into R. Once you replicate it for the dealer, they should be able to diagnose the problem. If it is operator error, they should be able to show you how to do it properly. Otherwise, there is something to fix.

my car also does that here and there. i found by shifting it slower and at a complete stop completely fixes the problem. before, i would do it quickly, and it would grind even though it was in gear.

There have a been a few people with this problem, and I know at least one (9kRever) took it to the dealer and their was something weird going on, and they replaced a bunch of stuff. I would get it checked by your dealer, if I was you.

I occasionally have difficulties with going into reverse, where I have to let out the clutch just a little, then I can get into gear. I did ask my friendly dealer about it, who said it was "normal". I did question this, but after talking to a factory service rep about both the problem and the Mazda tech who told me that... I'm not going to get too concerned just yet.
I will be back at the dealership screaming if this gets any worse. :)

Try putting it in first gear, then shifting to reverse. I think if you were crusing around in say, second gear, throw it in neutral coast to a stop, and then try to reverse, sometimes it will grind. (did that make sense?) Anyway try it and see if it helps, I always throw it in first, then go for reverse, never had a single grind in 4k miles.

-Rupes

shift slower
 

i find that if i shift slow and sure, no grinding. if ur problem persists, of course take it to the dealer!

I've had the same problem, with about the same frequency. I know the dealer wont be able to reproduce it (or they will and they'll just say they didn't), so I'm loathe to take it in just yet. Pretty strange problem, and it makes you seem like a total chump when other people are around.

I to am in the pool of those who have it. It feels just like it slipes into place then that awful sound occurs. When it happens the only way I know is the grinding. Even after it grinds for a second till I can not pull it any farther into gear. I have to come out of gear and usually go to another then come back to R to get in place. From my experience it has nothing to do with pulling slow, fast or moving. It happens more often than not when I am pulling out of my garage after being parked.

I seem to remember the same thing on a past manual transmission I had before but I don't remember which one.

This has never happened to me, and grinding is never good. I would take it to the dealer immediately.

No, grinding is never good, but it's not likely to get reproduced at the dealership either. They will just call it operator error. I guarantee.

I always put mine in first then to reverse to stop the counter shaft from spinning.

The grinding would happen to me from time to time when I first got my car; I took it to the dealer and the service techs couldn't find anything wrong and just suggested that I shift into first before I shift into reverse - it fixed the problem. Incidently, after a month of doing this, I just started to reverse normally, and the problem's seemed to have gone away.

Shouldn't everything be disconnected (no spinning) when the clutch is disengaged (pedal down)?

i also have this problem too. all i do to fix this is to release the clutch few time then eventually it be good. i can feel weather or not it gonna grind so i'll no weather or not to move or do the clutch thingy again

OK maybe I'm unsual, but the only times I've engaged reversed is after starting the car and then backing up. Because I always leave the car in first when its parked, I always go from first to reverse. That could be why I've never had a problem.

Same here. I've only had mine for a week and it's already happened about 4-5 times. Even more ridiculous is that it oly happens when other people are standing around - like in a parking garage or at work---very embarassing!!!

I've found the problem can be avoided by shifting slowly and deliberately.

This has happened to me a few times in the morning when I first back out of the garage. I just attributed it to my being sleepy or lazy and not pushing the shifter down far enough when putting it in R. It has never happened when I've backed out anywhere else, so I had chalked it up to being sleepy. I'll pay more attention now that I know others have the same problem.

Similar to what JT mentioned, out of habit, I put my 86 Accord in 1st before R to "line up the synchros" and never have a problem grinding. Although it would be more of a rough shift into reverse, rather than a true grind, in my Accord, it's a habit I just do without thinking about now. I may start doing this in the 8, but now I'm curious if it's been me being careless or if something needs to be tweeked in the 8 trans after sitting overnight or several days.

I have this problem often but I think it is my fault most of the time.