Jumping Out Of Reverse!?!! HELP!

Ok I have almost got my 912 "Road-Worthy" but I have a really bad problem. My shifter is so sloppy I can barely find the gears. But once I do get in the proper gear it has no problem. BUT, when I try to go into reverse the gear shift will go but after the car moves about 2 feet it will pop back out of gear.

I have tried holding the shifter in gear but it doesn't do any good. It just pops back out and grinds. I'm afriad this is going to end up messing up my trans as well as burning out my clutch.

I will be ordering all new shifter bushings (front and rear) on Tuesday to cure the sloppy shifting but I was wondering if the bushings would have anything to do with the car jumping out of reverse? Maybe the sloppy bushings aren't allowing it to go all the way in? Or is it somthing far worse? Like Synchros or somthing?

Help me out here guys!
Thanks!

Hmm..well thankfully you have, a 901 tranny right. Much cheaper to get ahold of.
A few weeks ago my 84 Carrera popped out of 1st a few times. Then I couldn't get into first at all.
I had to have it rebuilt. Dogteeth were gone, 1st gear history etc.
Because I needed a clutch too, the whole thing cost 2600$.

But for just the tranny it was around 1900$.
I certainly hope that isn't the case with you, but DON'T drive it until a mechanic tells you what's up or you'll do more damage. If you drain the tranny fluid and find bits of metal as they did in mine, then you know for sure you'll be needing a rebuild.

Good luck.


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Kurt B
1984 911 Carrera Cabriolet
75 914 1.8


[This message has been edited by Kurt B (edited 05-07-2000).]

Ouch! Heh. I hope it doesn't need a rebuild
but do any of you guys think the bushings may have anything to do with it? Or am i just wishful thinking?

Thanks guys.

My car does not pop out of first on its own, but it will if you pull on the shifter before the clutch is FULLY engaged. Two more facts: it feels like it just barely shifts INTO first, in terms of shifter travel, and it kinda wants to pop out of third as well (when pulling prematurely on the shifter). Given these symptoms, I suspect the shifter needs adjusting so that it is going all the way into first and third when the shifter is pushed forward. Probably not a bushing issue, but it is (hopefully) a shift linkage adjustment issue. Perhaps yours is similar.

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'83 SC

Had the same experience, when I used a garage with a rather steep entrance. Either 1st, 2nd or reverse gear popped out regularly. Sometimes, I had to climb up with cold engine in 3rd! I well remember the smell of the clutch...
It took me several attempts of proper adjustment of the shift linkage that all gears were doing properly. Solved the problem, but took a whole weekend of experimenting.
Good luck-maybe its not a major damage.

Jens
76' 911 CIS / 73 body conversion