[ThePeruvian]

hey i looked around on search, but haven't found anyone with my problem. ok guys, so when i turn on my car, as i want to back up from my garage. i step on the clutch all the way down and i make the shift. the problem is i have to muscle it in there. i have had the car since 2006. it is a 2004 i bought it used from the dealer. it has 64k miles on it. i dont have any problems shifting to 1,2,3,4,5 or 6th gear. i mean i have to use 2 hands to put it in reverse.

so if someone can help me out, i'd appreciate it

[fullerton]

Originally Posted by ThePeruvian

so if someone can help me out, i'd appreciate it

You are lifting the ring, correct?

Do you have an aftermarket shifter or busings?
Have you checked to make sure there is proper tension on the reverse lockout cable?



And why would you muscle it in to gear? You realize there is a delicate piece of machinery connected to that lever, don't you?

[boondocksaint]

Bent shift gate?

Do not muscle your car into gear.

[ThePeruvian]

Originally Posted by fullerton

You are lifting the ring, correct?

Do you have an aftermarket shifter or busings?
Have you checked to make sure there is proper tension on the reverse lockout cable?

yes i am lifting the ring lol. no i dont have an aftermarket shifter or busings. yeah i know i shouldnt do it. its just that the problem started out of nowhere. dont worry guys im not like forcing it in 24/7 it was just twice. and now i dont park in the drive way.

Originally Posted by fullerton

And why would you muscle it in to gear? You realize there is a delicate piece of machinery connected to that lever, don't you?

how do i do that?

i talked to a guy @ the subaru of jacksonville and he said that he hadnt heard of that before and that the quickest they could see me is the 15th!!!

Originally Posted by boondocksaint

Bent shift gate?

what do i do about that??

thanks to you guys for the quick replies! i am defenetly going to stay away from shifting into reverse.

[boondocksaint]

A bent gate is a job for a mechanic, most likely. It occurs because of mis-shifting, which is strange because you don't exactly slam it in reverse.

Fullerton's advice is more easily checked out. Get under the car and inspect the reverse lockout cable. If the clamps that hold it have come lose, the driveshaft will be chewing on it. Get under the car and give it a look.

[fullerton]

it also may be too lose and not fully "unlocking" reverse.

[sciolist]

You say there's no problem shifting into the forward gears, which I'm assuming means while you're stationary.

Try shifting to 1st initially, then to reverse.

I don't really know, but have always assumed this sticky reverse thing comes from a lack of wear on the face of the reverse gear, and the fact that the layshaft is stationary for that initial shift.

When you're up or downshifting between forward gears in motion, the layshaft is already spinning, so the collar kind of gets a 'running start' at the gear.

It also often works for me to nudge the car slightly forward in first, and then shift to reverse, which suggests (to my relatively ignorant mind) that the collar was just not very well lined up with the gear face. That would explain why the shifter has that felling where it's just mechanically excluded from the gate... which is what I assume you're talking about.

Okay, enough rambling.

Howstuffworks "A Real Transmission"

[polyol]

I dont have any problem like that. My reverse is buttery smooth. That said, on my Forester I have to do the sciolist method for getting into reverse...put it in 1st then put it into reverse often helps.

[SiCkSTi04]

have you had any work to the car before this problem started?

[ACHAHockey]

Happens to me sometimes, I usually have to let off the clutch a little and then it'll pop into reverse fine.

[V8Huntr]

Try loosening your shift knob until it spins freely, then try pulling the lockout ring up and put it into reverse. Your shift knob may be on too tight causing the lockout ring to get stuck and not open the reverse lock completely.

[ThePeruvian]

thanks for everyone's response

Originally Posted by boondocksaint

A bent gate is a job for a mechanic, most likely. It occurs because of mis-shifting, which is strange because you don't exactly slam it in reverse.

Fullerton's advice is more easily checked out. Get under the car and inspect the reverse lockout cable. If the clamps that hold it have come lose, the driveshaft will be chewing on it. Get under the car and give it a look.

ok thanks for the advice ill check it out.

Originally Posted by sciolist

You say there's no problem shifting into the forward gears, which I'm assuming means while you're stationary.

Try shifting to 1st initially, then to reverse.

collar was just not very well lined up with the gear face. That would explain why the shifter has that felling where it's just mechanically excluded from the gate... which is what I assume you're talking about.

yes! ill try it immediately thanks. oh n nice diahrams on that link

Originally Posted by SiCkSTi04

have you had any work to the car before this problem started?

u mean mods in general? or like have a got any work done to it recently before the problem started? if do yeah i got a turbo timer n boost controller out in 2 days before the problem, but they said they didnt touch the clutch. or did they lie?

[haroman311]

put it into 1st gear first then try reverse, does that help? some cars just need to be put into 1st then reverse, i have to do it on customers toyotas all day.

[ThePeruvian]

ok i tried shifting into 1st n then reverse, but that didnt do it. for the mean time im just kind of putting it in neutral and pushing it out of the parking spot lol. but i do have an apt with subaru in winter springs (i live by oviedo and it is the closest one) tomorrow. so i will ask to check for a bent gate.

yeah i had some work done to it. and then a day later i started having the problem. i put in a boost controller (i know i know, waste) and a boost controller greddy prospec B II. when i asked the guy bout it he said that the work he did had nothing to do with the clutch. is he lying? trying to get away with messing up my clutch? or just a coincidence?

Originally Posted by V8Huntr

Try loosening your shift knob until it spins freely, then try pulling the lockout ring up and put it into reverse. Your shift knob may be on too tight causing the lockout ring to get stuck and not open the reverse lock completely.

ill try that out tomorrow.

[GOTBOOST750]

boost controller not a waste get it mapped and tuned and you now have more power