Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Can't shift into 5th / reverse

While driving tonight, I started having trouble shifting into 5th gear. It does not feel like the hang up is in the transmission itself, rather it feels like it is in the shifter. As I push up/over to 5th from 4th, the rod stops suddenly at the neutral position and will not go up into 5th. This is a "hard" feel, hence my thought that it is in the shifter, not the transmission. So far this problem is intermittant, sometimes it will go into 5th. Works more often with a quick decisive shift.

After playing with it a bit, (to gather the above info/symtoms) I parked it and tried to shift into reverse. It would not go at all.

I drove it the rest of the night, (delivery job) and found that I could shift into 5th about 60% of the time, but never once have I been able to get it into reverse.

I'm hoping the shift cables just need adjusting. I have noticed vertical play in the shifter of about +/- 1/2" (1" total free motion) while in gear lately. Yeah, it was on my 200 page "to do list".

Anyone else got any thoughts/ideas?

Thanks,
Dave

Check the cables first,sounds like the self adjuster part on the trans end could be slipping....

This may sound stupid but you are pulling up on the lockout before trying to shift into those gears arent you?

Yup! It's been working fine for the other 65,000 miles I've driven the car.
The question is not totally unreasonable. I've seen some really stupid people through the years. :rolleyes:
Dave

Thanks Terry! I sure hope that is all the problem is. Just pinch the orange clamp and pull the wire snug, then hope the clamp grabs tight on the wire, right?

Dave

I have a similar problem on a 99 SVT with about 19000 miles. It never gives me problems when the car is cold started. Typically it shows up when the car is driven 10-15 miles and parked for shopping. Upon start up it is very difficult to shift into reverse and forward gears SOME of the time. Other times, it shifts fine.

I have found out that when it is difficult to shift into reverse, it will shift right in when the engine is shut off. This car is still under warranty and I will take it in and post what they find. You can check the dialog of the other topic I started on a shifting issue by searching on member #6833.

Good Luck

I have a problem just like that but in first and reverse, I barely goes into first gear after I have stopped but will go into first when it is cold. But it hardly ever goes into reverse, only when the engine is turned off it will go into reverse. Took it into the dealership and they tried it in reverse when the car was off. I am just going to have to bring it into the dealership again.

Thanks guys for bringing up the topic, never thought about it when the car was running.

Well, after playing with it for a few hours, I have learned:

The vertical slop or play while in gear seems to be caused by a worn rubber bushing which connects the vertical motion cable to the transmission gear selector pin. Anyone want to place bets on it's not being available as a seperate part? :rolleyes:

The cables at the transmission end move smooth and strong, seems to eliminate the cables and their adjustment as the problem.

Nothing appears to be out of place or blocking the motion at either the transmission or shifter end of the cables.

The gear selector cable comes off the pin easily. Worn bushing and missing retaining clip. So I pulled it off. Motion of this cable selects 1/2, 3/4, 5/R. The other cable selects which channel group. With the gear selector cable removed, and my wife pulling the channel selector cable to the right (5/R), I manually operated the selector pin on the transmission, and still could not get it to go into reverse.

The similar problems posted here are not really similar. I cannot get into reverse under any conditions, warm, cold, engine off or running, clutch in or out.

Anyone have any more thoughts? Help!! Terry? Anyone?

Any chance this is still a small shifter related problem? Or does it sound internal? I hope not, I'm completely broke right now, no credit, nothing, it cannot be internal or I am completely screwed!

I'm going to put it back together right now, and drive it for work tomorrow. Anyone have anything I should try to do to get some more clues?

Thanks,
Dave

UPDATE:
I drove the car wednesday for deliveries, and have some new indications.

I can get it into 5th gear about 70% of the time. A quick firm shift works more often. It does not feel like the slightly more firm shift is forcing it into gear, rather with a firm quick shift the problem does not surface at all and the feel going into gear is completely normal.

I got it into reverse twice out of about 100+ attempts. I try it every time I stop for a light or whatever. I had just gotten into the car on my way to a delivery, tried reverse, no go, went to 5th, pulled back, and it went to 4th. Moved it over and tried again, and it dropped right into reverse. Again it felt normal, just like before the problems started.
So I drove off, and stopped in the middle of the parking lot, deciding to try it again. I stopped, pulled it over to reverse, and it dropped right in.
Haven't been able to get it back in reverse since then.

I guess the main new indication here is that it does go into reverse on rare occasions, and it feels completely normal going in when it does. So the problem is not best described as dificulty getting into gears, when it works if feels normal. Something is intermittantly completely preventing the shift, not just making it more difficult.

Does this bring any ideas to mind for anyone? I really cannot afford to take this to the dealer and bend over for them.

Thanks,
Dave

I have a similar prob. The car stuck in gear. !st or 2nd, don't know. Took it to Ford. A shifter lever in the tranny had broke off. That's why I couldn't shift. It's been in the shop awhile because the part is on back order. Ford ( in Detroit ) has called to find out more info on the car. From thinking of that and coming up with my own conclusion, I'm assuming that I am not the first case for this problem. My advice. Check it out, or drive it very easy, or park it until you have some money.