Notices
RX-8 Discussion General discussion about the RX-8 that doesn't fit in one of the specialty forums.

unable to get in reverse gear

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 11-08-2009, 04:36 PM
  #1  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
yenphi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
unable to get in reverse gear

Hi all, just an hour ago I just back the car up then go forward to my garage, but now I am unable to put into reverse gear at all, been trying for almost an hour now, but still can't, it is 2004 with 60000 miles. Any help, please.....
Old 11-08-2009, 04:45 PM
  #2  
It's Complicated
iTrader: (2)
 
Pico's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Dirty Jerz
Posts: 1,780
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Going to need more info like:

Trans, maintenance, fluids used, driving habits, other symptoms
Old 11-08-2009, 04:52 PM
  #3  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
yenphi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
6 speed, normal driving, redline once in awhile, red-line fluid changed about 1.5 years, everything normal until today. thanks
Old 11-08-2009, 04:57 PM
  #4  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
yenphi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thank God, it is ok now, back to nornal. thanks all anyway. I thought I will spend some big $ on it.
Old 11-08-2009, 07:55 PM
  #5  
Registered
 
ken-x8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 5,027
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Did you do anything special to get it working?

Ken
Old 11-08-2009, 08:00 PM
  #6  
Registered
 
Marklar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 935
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
The 8 seems to have a problem going into reverse, sometimes it just won't go completely in even the the clutch on the floor and the stick pressed down.

What I've found is that if you keep your hand on the stick and push it down gently it will pop in as soon as you engage the clutch.

If there's a downgrade behind you you can just roll back a little and it will pop in. I don't know what causes this but others have complained about the same problem so I think it's a quirk with the transmission. It can grind if you aren't careful.
Old 11-08-2009, 08:13 PM
  #7  
Registered
 
BReal-10EC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
My 8 has always been rather finicky when sitting still (since new). Sometimes it won't go into 1st gear until I throw it in another gear, then back over to 1st quickly. I probably should do the redline oil thing (assuming that helps as much as it did on my 85 rx7).
Old 11-08-2009, 08:58 PM
  #8  
Hit & Run Magnet
iTrader: (3)
 
kersh4w's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: DC Area
Posts: 6,690
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
my previous transmission was horrible about going into reverse. my current one is fine.

i found that holding the shift **** back and then letting the clutch out slowly works well. my shift **** would also click back another 1/2" if i did this.
Old 11-08-2009, 09:34 PM
  #9  
Registered
 
ken-x8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 5,027
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Originally Posted by Marklar
The 8 seems to have a problem going into reverse, sometimes it just won't go completely in even the the clutch on the floor and the stick pressed down.

What I've found is that if you keep your hand on the stick and push it down gently it will pop in as soon as you engage the clutch.

If there's a downgrade behind you you can just roll back a little and it will pop in. I don't know what causes this but others have complained about the same problem so I think it's a quirk with the transmission. It can grind if you aren't careful.
Most cars are like that. Reverse is a separate sliding gear, no constant mesh. The teeth can randomly line up so that they block each other. Engaging the clutch or rolling backwards rotates the gear a little so it goes in. On some cars putting it in one of the forward gears will jiggle things enough for reverse to engage.

The only special thing about reverse on the 8 is learning the right point to do the "down" in the down-right-back motion. I'll still miss every once in a while.

Ken
Old 11-09-2009, 09:45 AM
  #10  
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
parkpy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by ken-x8
Most cars are like that. Reverse is a separate sliding gear, no constant mesh. The teeth can randomly line up so that they block each other. Engaging the clutch or rolling backwards rotates the gear a little so it goes in. On some cars putting it in one of the forward gears will jiggle things enough for reverse to engage.

The only special thing about reverse on the 8 is learning the right point to do the "down" in the down-right-back motion. I'll still miss every once in a while.

Ken
My RX8 does this as well, especially when the car is cold. It has done this since fairly new. I changed transmission fluid to Redline fluid at 36,000 miles, but didn't notice a dramatic difference, if any.

When I am not able to engage into reverse, I shift into and engage first gear, before shifting back into reverse gear, where it almost always will engage.

I just attribute it to being a quirk of the car
Old 11-09-2009, 12:17 PM
  #11  
Huge hole is huge
 
CyberPitz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Joplin, MO
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I usually have to play with it to get into reverse. It will seem like it's in, but when I go to let the clutch out, GRRIIIINNNDDDDD. So I try to put it in reverse, put it into first, then back into reverse. Haven't had an issue with it again.
Old 11-09-2009, 12:44 PM
  #12  
Registered User
 
Aseras's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,587
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Go through all the gears, inch it forward in 1st or second by slipping the clutch a bit then try reverse again. Sometimes I swear the straight cut gears on reverse will just refuse to engage. The rest of the gears are helical cut and never have a problem.
Old 11-09-2009, 12:48 PM
  #13  
Power!!
 
shaunv74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Sunny See attle
Posts: 4,412
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
I generally put the shifter in to 2nd before putting it in to reverse. I never have a reverse issue though.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
theblinkof
Series I Trouble Shooting
33
10-04-2023 05:24 PM
nowakm99
Series II Technical and Trouble shooting
1
10-09-2015 07:10 AM
Sato Tatsuya
Canada For Sale/Wanted
3
10-05-2015 03:09 PM
Luke.s
New Member Forum
4
09-30-2015 05:57 PM
Zube6115
Series I Trouble Shooting
8
09-30-2015 12:57 PM



You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: unable to get in reverse gear



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:44 AM.