R Crusoe Posted February 2, 2013 Report Posted February 2, 2013 All of a sudden, for no particular reason, I can't get my 1989 Pontiac Grand Prix to shift into reverse. It has the 5 speed manual transmission. I have removed the console and all looks OK there, removed the air cleaner housing to look at the cable connections to the transmission and everthing there seems normal as well. It will shift into 1st thru 5th but when in reverse position, it still goes forward. Quote
Disbass69 Posted February 2, 2013 Report Posted February 2, 2013 Mine did this when I got it Are the rest of the gears hard to shift in to? Sent from my microwave using Tapatalk 2 Quote
AL Posted February 3, 2013 Report Posted February 3, 2013 Perhaps the shift cable came undone, check the connections on top of the trans and make sure they didnt Quote
19Cutlass94 Posted February 3, 2013 Report Posted February 3, 2013 Reverse is not synchro'ed so it is possible that your hitting the gear and not allowing it to enter reverse. If the cables are in working order and attached properly, one two reasons why it would go into reverse. The reason I stated, or something broken in the transmission. And since you say that it shifts fine through the other gears, start looking at simple things first before you rule that the problem is in the transmission itself. Sent from my iPhone in some random spot of Texas. Quote
GOT2B GM Posted February 3, 2013 Report Posted February 3, 2013 Try shifting into 5th, then reverse. Sent from my Motorola Dynatac 8000x using Tapatalk Quote
R Crusoe Posted February 3, 2013 Author Report Posted February 3, 2013 Does anyone have pictures or video of what the shifter cable positions on the transaxel should look like in their various gear positions? Tried driving arould the block and went thru all the gears but when back at parking place, still no reverse. Quote
R Crusoe Posted February 3, 2013 Author Report Posted February 3, 2013 These are images I took of the positions of the likage and cable positions in the various gears - 1-5 and then reverse. Anyone see anything out of the ordinary?? Quote
alec_b Posted February 4, 2013 Report Posted February 4, 2013 Can you put it into reverse when the engine isn't running? Quote
R Crusoe Posted February 4, 2013 Author Report Posted February 4, 2013 i haven't tried, at least i don't know if it is in reverse. i suppose i could shift to reverse position, start the engine, and release the clutch to see if it actually went into reverse while the engine was not running. Why do you ask? Do you suspect there might be some electrical problem causing this situation? Quote
alec_b Posted February 4, 2013 Report Posted February 4, 2013 That's what I was going to suggest. Put in reverse, fire it up and see what happens. I'm just curious if there's maybe something wrong with the reverse gear. The fact that it goes into all forward gears would lead me to believe that it's not a linkage problem. However it is possible that just reverse could have gone sour. Quote
AL Posted February 5, 2013 Report Posted February 5, 2013 Or have a mirror behind the car when its key on engine off and look for reverse lights to come on Quote
pshojo Posted February 7, 2013 Report Posted February 7, 2013 Speaking of reverse. Where is shift pattern for reverse? All the way to the right and down? Quote
R Crusoe Posted February 10, 2013 Author Report Posted February 10, 2013 Started car with gear shift in reverse position and clutch pedal depressed. Released clutch gently, but car tries to move forward. Quote
intern8tion9l Posted February 10, 2013 Report Posted February 10, 2013 It has all forward gears or just 2? Quote
alec_b Posted February 11, 2013 Report Posted February 11, 2013 It tries to move forward? Sounds like you were in 4th. I think the trans is bye-bye if it won't even go into reverse with the car off. Quote
intern8tion9l Posted February 14, 2013 Report Posted February 14, 2013 If one of the cables broke it will only have 3rd and 4th gear. Happened to me Quote
Disbass69 Posted February 14, 2013 Report Posted February 14, 2013 Have you checked the bushings? Mine half went and I had half the gears. If not I'd bet on shift cable Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using Tapatalk 2 Quote
R Crusoe Posted February 19, 2013 Author Report Posted February 19, 2013 It has all forward gears or just 2? Shifts into 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, not 5th or reverse. I think I need new cables, but need help finding a supplier Quote
R Crusoe Posted February 21, 2013 Author Report Posted February 21, 2013 Checked again on a test drive. Transmission will go into 1st and 2nd normally, but goes into 3rd and 4th in the position where normally you would shift into 5th and reverse. I suspect a problem with the cable which controls the shift pattern, possibly stretched or binding somewhere. I have searched online for a supplier of new cables, but have not had much luck. I possibly have someone who can manufacture new cables for me, but waiting on response. Quote
Crazy K Posted February 22, 2013 Report Posted February 22, 2013 booger bushing mod time??? there is a write up in FAQ on how to make your own bushings for the shift cables in a 284 car.... by Chinese Matt... Quote
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