Problems shifting into reverse / 5th

[gar]

Well, this post is going to be slightly different, because my only "question" is if this has happened to anybody else.

Basically, it's been getting harder and harder to get the car into reverse the past few days.

Today when heading out to lunch, I couldn't get it into reverse at all, and on the freeway, I couldn't get it into 5th.

Now, the shift coupler and all the bushings have been recently replaced, the transmission fluid was also recently changed, etc.

The likely culprit is that the shifter housing seems to MOVE when I move the shifter to the left or the right.

So my diagnosis is that I need to go back and tighten everything down again.

Anybody have this problem themselves / agree or disagree with my diagnosis?

-Garrett

ps - I discovered I could push the car backwards while sitting in the driver's seat with one leg. Try that in an SUV!

[jester911]

It sounds like you need to readjust your coupler. When I did my shifter bushings ect. and reattached the coupler I had the same problem. Take your time with a slight adjustment and make sure the set/retaining screw is not stripped out.

[gar]

Well, I don't think it's the shift coupler because of the fact that the entire shifter housing rocks back and forth freely using only hand pressure.

I'll probably check it if the problem doesn't disappear with a tightening of the allen head bolts.

If I use lock-tite on them, will I be able to get the bolts out at a later date?

[juanbenae]

gar, you wont see 5th on mines saturday.

i would not lock-tite them. could you have left them loose on reassembly?

[gar]

I don't THINK I left them loose, but maybe I could've put a little more force into tightening them -- I might've held back given the holy living hell that was getting the bolts undone in the first place.

Right now, I'm missing having my 5th gear, since cruising at 4k rpm in 4th is much less fun that 4k rpm in 5th.

[gar]

Fixed everything last night -- as suspected, ALL 5 bolts had worked themselves loose (?!?).

Moral of the story -- if you're having trouble shifting, also check to make sure that the shifter is FIRMLY bolted down.