damn car wont let me shift into reverse

[mazda3zoom]

So just the other day my car decided it didnt like reverse very much. Sometimes it wont shift into reverse and i dont know why. I already took the center council apart to make sure that nothing was physically hanging up the shifter and nothin that i could see. Its almost like one of the shift linkages is outta adjustment. Or it could be the safety thing they have so that you cannot go into reverse untill you go into neutral. Its not like it wont engage or it grinds, it just wont go into gear. anyone got any ideas?????

 

[RonH]

Try putting it in a forward gear then reverse (for instance put it in second gear, then reverse).

 

[mazda3zoom]

done that...

 

[ZoomVT]

done that...

dude i got the exact same problem. every now and then it just wont into reverse. I have tried engaging to a different gear and then reverse but it still wont go in. What has worked for me many times is to slightly rev the engine and then try again. I have no idea why that would work but seems to work most of the time, or it could just be coincidence.

 

[EcLites]

Synchros may not be lining up.

 

[ForceFed]

Try this....It works on almost every car I've ever tried....And thats a LOT

If it wont go into reverse
1. put in neutral and let out clutch
2.depress clutch
3.put trans into 1st
4. go from 1st to R

Voila!
Usually works like a champ and become second nature once you do it for a while.
These are economy built cars and the gears do not line up perfectly all the time...this trick help re-align the gears and the first gear and reverse I have been told are on the same gear cluster...putting it into first locks it out and stops the trans from spinning and allows easy engagement of R

Try it and see how it works!(thumb)

 

[thasilver3]

i got the same exact problem well good to no im not the only 1

 

[mazda3zoom]

damn and here i thought i was the only person with this problem. well its kinda good to know that its not just my car, but at the same time it sucks. Ill try the above posted "fixes" and tell everyone how it does. Did anyone ever think that maybe the linkages came loose or sumthin? cuz it seems like i pull the shifter all the way to the right and the cable isnt coming over as far as it should. Im gonna rip it apart tomorrow and see what i can find out and if that fails im gonna have to take it to a trans shop and see whats up. Its gettin really old lookin for parkin spots that are either on a hill, or ones that i can pull all the way thru.lol

 

[mobomelter]

i have the problem too. put the car in first gear and pull forward just a tad then it should go into reverse without problem.

 

[mazda3zoom]

Try this....It works on almost every car I've ever tried....And thats a LOT

If it wont go into reverse
1. put in neutral and let out clutch
2.depress clutch
3.put trans into 1st
4. go from 1st to R

Voila!
Usually works like a champ and become second nature once you do it for a while.
These are economy built cars and the gears do not line up perfectly all the time...this trick help re-align the gears and the first gear and reverse I have been told are on the same gear cluster...putting it into first locks it out and stops the trans from spinning and allows easy engagement of R

Try it and see how it works!(thumb)

when you say a lot of cars are u referring to mazda3's or just cars in general?

 

[mazda3zoom]

i have the problem too. put the car in first gear and pull forward just a tad then it should go into reverse without problem.

now nothing against all you guys that have this problem but why doesnt anyone take this to their dealers? If my car was still under warrenty i would have been there bitchin by now.

 

[mobomelter]

its a manual trans. it happens every once and awhile in everyone i've ever driven. i don't feel like taking it to the dealer and waiting a ridiculous amount of time to fix something that isn't really a problem. i mean maybe if i ran from the cops alot or was a get away driver i would care more about being able to get into reverse quickly.

 

[rx7mazda]

Mine does the same as well. I always manage to get it in, even if I have to force it in or let it grind in. ForceFed, next time this happens, I will try your method.

 

[ForceFed]

Mine does the same as well. I always manage to get it in, even if I have to force it in or let it grind in. ForceFed, next time this happens, I will try your method.

Yeah..It only takes like a second once you get it down and I was referring to all cars in general when referring to a lot of them earlier.

 

[mazda3zoom]

yupp....nuthins workin so far. will update once i figure it out.

 

[Super Mario]

this has happened on almost every manual ive driven. i put it in first and move up a bit and then it goes right into reverse. not a problem.

 

[JOS3]

my car has done this on occasion, but not nearly as bad as some of you describe.

 

[goldwing2000]

Usually I just let off the brake and let the car roll a bit and it slips right in.

Tony, since you just had your engine and trans out, one or both of the cables might need to be adjusted or something.

 

[mazda3zoom]

Problem Fiexed!!! The plastic clips that hold the shift cables to a bracket that bolts to the engine came undone. Alls i had to do was snap them back into place. I dont know if this just happened to mine because i didnt clip em in all the way when i had the car apart or if this is sumthin all of us should keep an eye on. (hand)