Shifting into reverse

I have a 98 S14. There has been many times when I can't shift into reverse. I'd have to let the car roll in neutral a tiny bit before I can get in reverse, and that doesn't work if I'm not on a slight slope. It really sucks to be stuck in a 3-point turn trying to get in reverse while another car is waiting. So am I doing anything wrong or do any of you have this problem also? What's the best way to get into reverse when it won't let you?

[DSC]

I have this problem too with my '96. I've found that if you put it in neutral, let off the clutch, press the clutch down again and then shift into reverse It usually works.

[MingMing]

my friends altima does this too
he cant shift into reverse sometimes
all u hafta do is unclutch and clutch again, no idea why this happens thou
but as he put it, it occurs "once in a blue moon"
... i remember that  cuz i laffed my ass off hehe

[BlankFlip]

i have the same problem in my 96. when i start the car up (holding down the clutch), i usually keep the clutch in n try to put it into reverse n it doesn't work, so i have to let out the clutch then clutch it again, only sometimes though. nebody know a solution to this problem?

[my240likenoother]

mine does it my moms car does it my g/f's car does it all i do is hold it ontop of the gear and let the clutch out a little as i hold it down on the gear and it slips in just hold the clutch where it slips in

[misnomer]

my '92 does this from time to time. Slides a bit into reverse, but won't catch. Let out the clutch and put it back in like Ming said.

[Drift Style S14]

I always was wondering why i would have a hard time shifting into reverse. thanks peps.

[konkman]

That happens to me all the time.

This cures the problem everytime.  Keep the clutch down and give her some gas.  When the rev's rise, it's simple to slide her into reverse.

It works great, plus it's a perfect excuss to rev up your engine.

[BlankFlip]

yeah, i've never tried that actually to go into reverse, only into 1st. i've always just let the clutch out n back in, n sometimes that doesn't exactly work all the time, i'm gonna try that tomorrow.

[konkman]

My girlfriend told me that.  I love it, I give my big exhaust a nice wake up call everytime come out of a stall.  With my BLUE reverse lights, I get noticed.

[BoostDynamics]

I think most 5 speed tranny's have trouble going into reverse so you don't accidently put it into reverse while you are moving, you either have to let off the clutch and reclutch it or what works for me most of the time is putting it into 5th gear first then going into reverse.

[konkman]

Have you ever tried putting these things into reverse while driving.  You'll grind your gears smooth before you'll slip that baby into reverse off of fifth.  

[BoostDynamics]

Personally no I haven't ever tried putting it into reverse while driving.. lol... I would figure they have more than one safety feature of not being able to get it into reverse but they do all kinds of wacky stuff when they design cars.. you never know.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from konkman on 12:32 am on Nov. 4, 2001
Have you ever tried putting these things into reverse while driving. &nbsp;You'll grind your gears smooth before you'll slip that baby into reverse off of fifth. &nbsp;
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I'm pretty sure he meant when the car's not moving and with the clutch pressed in. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> I've tried that. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. Guess I'll try the other ways. Thanks everyone.

Oh by the way, I have accidentally tried shifting into the non-existant 6th gear while on the highway once. The grinding noise wasn't pleasant. &nbsp;O_o

(Edited by danio at 12:54 am on Nov. 4, 2001)

[EVOtekS14bDIFter]

TRY THIS: &nbsp;Before you reverse, shift it to first, and then shift it to reverse. &nbsp;See if it works. &nbsp;What are you waiting for? &nbsp;Go do it now! &nbsp;GO, GO, GO!!!

Did it work? &nbsp;It works for me.

[chickenmanq]

Normally, I just wait 1 second before I shift into reverse. &nbsp;Most of the time, when the car is still slightly rolling forward, I have no problem getting it into reverse. &nbsp;Other that that, stick it in first, then in reverse like EVOtekS14bDIFter said.

[konkman]

I know the weather is getting colder when I can't shift into reverse when my car has just been turned on. &nbsp;

Winter is coming, and the Mountains are calling me.

[drifterx]

trying clutching a few times if it dont work the first time.... or another way i found was shifting into first then back down to reverse........

[BlankFlip]

do u all park in 1st or neutral though? i park in N w/ the e-brake up, so i just go to reverse from there when i pull out. does it make a difference if ur going from first to R or N to R?

press the shift lock release button and pull back one notch, LOL in my auto at least muahahahahaha

[konkman]

When you park your car should always be in gear. &nbsp;When you are facing downhill you should be in reverse. &nbsp;When your car is facing uphill your car should be in 1st. &nbsp;

And don't leave your tires straight, turn them into the curb or away, depending on the situation.

why keep the car in gear?

[BlankFlip]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from konkman on 1:54 pm on Nov. 5, 2001
When you park your car should always be in gear. When you are facing downhill you should be in reverse. When your car is facing uphill your car should be in 1st.

And don't leave your tires straight, turn them into the curb or away, depending on the situation.
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i do that stuff if i'm by a curb or hill, but i park on a completely flat parking spot right by soft grass, so i just usually keep it in N.

[konkman]

I personally put it in 1st when I am in doubt. &nbsp;

As for why keeping the car in gear. &nbsp;If you are on at hill and your ebrake doesn't hold up for some reason by keeping your car in gear the tires won't roll. &nbsp;If you are faceing uphill and keep your car in 1st your tires won't freely roll downhill like it would in N. &nbsp;And if all of this fails by turning your tires your car won't go far and hopefully not hit anything.

[drifterx]

hmmm i mean when u go into reverse....
try holding down the clutch, shift into 1st then back down to reverse... it is easier

[konkman]

I do that and it does work, but when it is colder outside, I find that giving the engine some gas as you try to put her in R makes it even easier. &nbsp;I'm combining both techniques.

I personally shift my car from 2nd to reverse if it doesn't come in. As for why it doesn't go in the first time(this is my theory anyway), you have to understand how a transmission works. When your foot is on the clutch and your car is stopped nothing in your transmission is moving, so the cog looking things that your trying to push into the reverse gear probably aren't lining up. So if you let out the clutch or slide it into another gear, it shifts the input shaft slighty, or rotates it, allowing it to slide in. That's just a theory of mine... Makes sense to me anyways. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

[chickenmanq]

Yeah I leave my car in first all the time when I'm parked normally, but if you're on a steep enough hill, it won't matter. &nbsp;Even in first, the engine will just turn over slowly, and your car will roll down. &nbsp;Done it before. &nbsp;Fortunately I was still inside just observing the effect.