Reverse Issues

6933 Views 12 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Stang 350R, Aug 27, 2020

RoarMore

Discussion Starter · Jul 3, 2018

I have a '17 350 and occasionally have problems getting it into reverse. The car is about 3 and a half months old. I will put it back into first, then start over trying to get it in reverse and still no luck. Anyone else have this issue? Should I take it back to the dealer and get it checked out? The car only has about 500 miles on it. Thanks.

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DewmsEleanor

· #2 · Jul 3, 2018

You are not alone on this one. I also have a '17 350 and occasionally will be unable to push the shifter into reverse. I lift the reverse collar and push into the reverse position, but it just feels like there is a wall in the way and I can't get it into gear. The only way I have found to get around this is to put it in first and move the car an inch or two in gear (luckily i usually have room in front of the car to do this), then after that I can successfully engage the rear gear. It hasn't happened enough to piss me off yet, and since I can get around it by engaging first gear, I haven't bothered looking into it. So if anyone else knows why it happens, and/or how to fix it, I'm all ears.

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RoarMore

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 3, 2018

A wall is a good way to describe it. I will try inching forward in first and see if that helps. Thanks for your reply. Others?

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FastEddie9

· #4 · Jul 6, 2018

Possibly a clutch takeup adjustment?

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FastEddie9

· #5 · Jul 6, 2018

No such issues with my 2017, two years and 7,500 miles.

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Bart

· #6 · Jul 12, 2018

I've had it happen a couple of times - it's not unique to the GT350, had the same issue with my Infiniti G37 I had before. I'm guessing most manuals have a dead spot - if you happen to stop in the exact spot then it's difficult to shift.

For me, the one annoyance I have with my transmission is that it's possible to partially shift into first while the vehicle is stationary. If you shift really gently, sometimes you can feel a smooth shift, then feel resistance and stop, but its not in gear, you let the clutch out and you hear a grinding because the gear isn't fully engaged. Anyone else get this? It's easy to avoid if you shift firmly, but if you're feeling the shift trying to be really smooth, the feedback isn't great.

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RoarMore

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 12, 2018

Bart said:
I've had it happen a couple of times - it's not unique to the GT350, had the same issue with my Infiniti G37 I had before. I'm guessing most manuals have a dead spot - if you happen to stop in the exact spot then it's difficult to shift.

For me, the one annoyance I have with my transmission is that it's possible to partially shift into first while the vehicle is stationary. If you shift really gently, sometimes you can feel a smooth shift, then feel resistance and stop, but its not in gear, you let the clutch out and you hear a grinding because the gear isn't fully engaged. Anyone else get this? It's easy to avoid if you shift firmly, but if you're feeling the shift trying to be really smooth, the feedback isn't great.

Haven't had that issue, but I have had some grinding trying to get it into reverse.

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JimT

· #8 · Jul 12, 2018

If you look at the design of a manual transmission you will notice that a lot of attention is given to slipping into forward gears by use of specialized syncros (double and triple cone in some cases), but zero for reverse. Shifting into reverse is a non-syncro’d, nothing more than sliding one gear into another. The sliding gear is cut to aid in engagement, but the two gears can clash. The shifting into a forward gear is called clearing the box and will usually cause the reverse gear relationship to change enough for engagement. Short of switching to an automatic, this is manual transmission design.

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HellOnWheels

· #9 · Jul 12, 2018

Bart said:
I've had it happen a couple of times - it's not unique to the GT350, had the same issue with my Infiniti G37 I had before. I'm guessing most manuals have a dead spot - if you happen to stop in the exact spot then it's difficult to shift.

For me, the one annoyance I have with my transmission is that it's possible to partially shift into first while the vehicle is stationary. If you shift really gently, sometimes you can feel a smooth shift, then feel resistance and stop, but its not in gear, you let the clutch out and you hear a grinding because the gear isn't fully engaged. Anyone else get this? It's easy to avoid if you shift firmly, but if you're feeling the shift trying to be really smooth, the feedback isn't great.

I am getting fully into first gear while vehicle is stationary. When I go to let the clutch out it doesn't grind but pops out of gear. I never even use first gear unless my car is at a complete stop. If I'm in traffic rolling extremely slow but not quite stopped, I don't even try for first and just keep it in second with a touch more gas. First is really tough in my car unless I'm absolutely not moving. I drive all my manual trannys that way.

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2016_GT350_Owner

· #10 · Jun 4, 2019

When I go to let the clutch out it doesn't grind but pops out of gear.

HellOnWheels said:
I am getting fully into first gear while vehicle is stationary. When I go to let the clutch out it doesn't grind but pops out of gear. I never even use first gear unless my car is at a complete stop. If I'm in traffic rolling extremely slow but not quite stopped, I don't even try for first and just keep it in second with a touch more gas. First is really tough in my car unless I'm absolutely not moving. I drive all my manual trannys that way.

I have experienced a similar situation in my 2016 GT350 with 2,700 miles. That said, a trick I learned many years ago with manual transmissions is to gear 2nd; then, 1st. This stops transmission from spinning, and synchronizes perfectly; it may also help with gearing reverse issues. I hope this helps. Nonetheless, I will follow the advise on using second gear unless vehicle is fully stopped.
After reading some threads, I would assume these issues are because of Tremec's racing transmission design.

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JimT

· #11 · Jun 5, 2019

RoarMore said:
I have a '17 350 and occasionally have problems getting it into reverse. The car is about 3 and a half months old. I will put it back into first, then start over trying to get it in reverse and still no luck. Anyone else have this issue? Should I take it back to the dealer and get it checked out? The car only has about 500 miles on it. Thanks.

Reverse gear in a manual transmission has no synchronizer* to aid in engagement as the forward gears do. Reverse is just 2 gears being pushed together to engage, the gears are cut with a ‘lead in’ to facilitate engagement, but it is possible they line up head to head. To clear the box, shift into neutral (car running) and let out the clutch to rotate the main transmission cluster shaft. This should realign gears and reverse will usually shift right in. (*Forward gears use Double Cone Syncros)

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Rob

· #12 · May 21, 2020

There was a TSB issued on the faulty shift gate and your dealer will fix it under warranty.

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Stang 350R

· #13 · Aug 27, 2020

JimT said:
Reverse gear in a manual transmission has no synchronizer* to aid in engagement as the forward gears do. Reverse is just 2 gears being pushed together to engage, the gears are cut with a ‘lead in’ to facilitate engagement, but it is possible they line up head to head. To clear the box, shift into neutral (car running) and let out the clutch to rotate the main transmission cluster shaft. This should realign gears and reverse will usually shift right in. (*Forward gears use Double Cone Syncros)

^^^^This^^^^
Been happening on all my manuals for many years. Quickly put shift lever in neutral then let clutch pedal out and push back in.

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