Manual Transmission T56 | T5 | MN12 | Clutches | Hydraulics | Shifters

Hard to get in reverse

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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 01:40 PM
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Default Hard to get in reverse

Cars been sitting a couple days and for some reason now i have to FORCE it into reverse. Im not sure whats causing it every other gear is smooth and even with the car off its very hard to get reverse. When it does go in it dosnt pop out of anything but i know it shouldnt take this kind of effort to get it in, getting to wits end with this thing now. Guess Ive been driving it too easy lately. Will it need to be completely rebuilt?
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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 03:03 PM
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Check the Reverse Lockout Fuse.
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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 03:08 PM
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what Merv said
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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 09:07 PM
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........ +1
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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 09:12 PM
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Cool thanks for the advice guys, im going to dig into it in the morning.
BTW i didnt see a reverse lockout fuse, does it go by a different name?
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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 09:26 PM
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Just changed the eng sen fuse, looked good but changed anyway. Same problem, wires looked just fine going to it also.
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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 09:38 PM
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Originally Posted by 1979rs/z28
Just changed the eng sen fuse, looked good but changed anyway. Same problem, wires looked just fine going to it also.
Yes the eng sen fuse is the correct fuse to change.

The only other thing to check is the reverse solenoid itself.
Chances are that's not bad.

Maybe your clutch hydraulic fluid is dirty and a little contaminated not quite giving the pressue needed to get it into reverse.
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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 09:42 PM
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Originally Posted by bearcatt
Yes the eng sen fuse is the correct fuse to change.

The only other thing to check is the reverse solenoid itself.
Chances are that's not bad.

Maybe your clutch hydraulic fluid is dirty and a little contaminated not quite giving the pressue needed to get it into reverse.
Fluids perfect, it was all replaced about 6k miles ago. Spec 3 clutch (works perfect) new slave, still has the 02 80k master (converted to adjustable and clean up inside) may be the problem but would it be still hard to put in reverse without the car running while it goes in all other gears fine. Makes no diff clutch pressed or not.
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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 10:02 PM
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Originally Posted by 1979rs/z28
Fluids perfect, it was all replaced about 6k miles ago. Spec 3 clutch (works perfect) new slave, still has the 02 80k master (converted to adjustable and clean up inside) may be the problem but would it be still hard to put in reverse without the car running while it goes in all other gears fine. Makes no diff clutch pressed or not.
If the car is off the solenoid plunger will be go into the shift pattern guide thus locking out reverse. Below five miles per hour, it should be easy to shift into reverse.

BTW I was talking about the hydraulic fluid in the reservoir.
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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 10:06 PM
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I was trying to find this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBbsy...layer_embedded


.
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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 10:15 PM
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Good info in that, I went by it when I done the clutch. I acutually went out and bought the same syringe. Almost scared now its mechanical, Ill try removing that reverse solenoid in the morning and see what happens.
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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 10:27 PM
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Good luck on that.

Hopefully it's just the reverse lockout solenoid or a simple hydraulic issue.


.
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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 10:32 PM
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Originally Posted by bearcatt
Good luck on that.

Hopefully it's just the reverse lockout solenoid or a simple hydraulic issue.


.
Thanks man, swapping to a auto car is looking so much better
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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 11:36 PM
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Originally Posted by 1979rs/z28
Thanks man, swapping to a auto car is looking so much better

Some guys do the auto conversion and some guys go from auto to M6.

The GM M6 clutch systems on the F-bodie's, GTO's, Vette's, CTS-V's and
G8's can be very fickle at times. We've had massive discussions here on
LS1Tech regarding the clutches and hydraulics on our cars.

Let us know what happens. Obviously start with the simple diagnosis and than go to the more advanced.
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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 11:43 PM
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Ya till the Auto blows up.
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Old Feb 3, 2010 | 11:47 PM
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Originally Posted by the_merv
Ya till the Auto blows up.

LOL, hey the_merv

Maybe 1979rs/z28 will feel better about his M6 once he gets it shifting into reverse correctly.

I see you're overseas. Get home safe and thanks for your service.


.
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Old Feb 4, 2010 | 08:02 AM
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X2 On your sevice the_merv!

I got the reverse lockout off and tried it and reverse works just like usual. Now I need to find out if ive got a wiring problem or if this thing actually went bad? Anyone know how to test them?
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Old Feb 4, 2010 | 09:41 AM
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If you turn the ignition on with your key and than plug and unplug the reverse lockout solenoid you should hear it click.

You should have 12volts on the pinkwire connector and ground or the green wire.

When the ignition is off the plunger is relaxed and protruding into the shift pattern guide and that's what blocks your shifter.

This diagram might be of help for tracing the wires down if need be.





.
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Old Feb 4, 2010 | 10:00 AM
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Bearcatt I want to say thanks in advance your a big help with this!
Ok i went out with the voltmeter and tried the ground on the plug and the chassis as a ground and i cant seem to get anymore than 11.76v out of the pink wire to it, shouldnt that be 12 v?? I went to another 12v source under the car and it clicked fine... Wonder why would i have low voltage instead of just no power! Im going to trace that wire back with the schmatic you gave me and see what happens.
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Old Feb 4, 2010 | 10:16 AM
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Always glad to help. Hopefully you will get reverse working as it should.

I would think that your voltage would be 12 volts or a little higher.

The skip shift solenoid gets it's power from the same ignition source as the reverse lockout solenoid. Is that where you got your other 12 volt source ?

It sounds like you have a bad connection or a small current bleed off somewhere.

You can always go right to the Fuse block where the pink wire and engine sense fuse is. You can check your power source there and see if you have 12 volts. Also check your battery voltage.




.

Last edited by bearcatt; Feb 4, 2010 at 10:55 AM.
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