Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle Problems with Reverse on MTX.

Every once in a while when I leave the parking lot I cannot shift into reverse. When the problem occurs I put the car in 1st gear and inch forward a bit. Then the reverse is fine. This happens far between.

I have changed my MTX to the cocktail but the problem reappeard again last week. I thought I would throw this on here to see if anybody else has ever experienced this.

Yep, I've experienced that too, both on my CSVT and other MTX cars. I consider it "normal" and don't worry about it.

Scott

I too have had this "problem" with every MT car I have owned. Don't worry about it.

Thanks, I feel a little better!

I've also had this where I can't get it all the way in. I'm glad I now know that this is normal. MTX's are so much fun

Originally posted by mcciavarella:

---

I too have had this "problem" with every MT car I have owned. Don't worry about it.

---

\

I too have had this problem on every manual car/SUV I've owned. It's normal.

I asked my transmission guy about it and he said it's because they don't install synchro's for reverse gears.

A highly knowledgeable individual on our cars explained something to me that I thought I would add to the subject.

Try this,start the car with the e brake on in neutral,when the engine is running take your foot off the clutch and just blip the gas a couple of times.This will get the lube to the selectors etc...which does not happen when your foot is on the cluch...try it.

I will give this a try next time it happens.

I had taht in my tempo I was told it was some syncro.. and my friend a mechanic told me to do what u do.. put it in first then reverse....

Originally posted by TommySVT:

---

I asked my transmission guy about it and he said it's because they don't install synchro's for reverse gears.

---

Depends on the car. I believe that the mose transmissions, including the MTX75, have a synchro on reverse. The proof is that you can put it in reverse while rolling a bit either forward or back and it won't grind. My old Miata had a non-synchro reverse gear, and it had to be absolutely stopped to grab reverse without grinding.

As for blipping the throttle with your foot off the clutch when cold, remember that your motor is cold too and the oil isn't flowing as well as when hot, so if you do this don't overdo it.

Scott

Sorry to put a damper on the warm fuzzy feeling of having something explained as 'normal', but this is NOT normal. I have the same problem and it is definitely not the same as the no-syncro-on-reverse scenario. That is when input gears are spinning but output gears aren't, so with out syncros there is some grind to get past (bringing output gears to a stop) when shifting into reverse. Or neither the input nor the output gears are spinning so you can encounter a situation where into two teeth butting up against one another. In this case letting off the clutch just a bit will nudge the input gear so you can slip into revers. In both of these cases you can feel that you aren't able to move the lever all the way into the "in gear" position for reverse. *BUT* What jborge (and I, and others) are experiencing is quite different. It's as tho the 'place' for reverse has moved down and you can't get the lever all the way there. It's really weird. I find it difficult to determine weather or not I'm in gear until I let the clutch out. Then I either move or grind. It can be quite embarassing. Also I've run into a couple of situations where I couldn't get it to ever go in. Had to find a forward way out. A couple of times it has affected 4th and 2nd too. TH claims that it has to do with a under-designed "shift tower" and that the real cure is to get the better one from a Focus MTX75. Doesn't sound like an easy job though. I would love to take mine in as it is still under warrantee, but I can never get it to happen when I want it too. I get the problem maybe 5% of the time or less. Any new thoughts on this?