anyone know why this is... i have to pull foward then try again and then it works..louis

 

I have the same problem. It can be a real pain sometimes. Don't know why it does it, though.

 

Two things you can do...

First, let the car drift forward or backward for about two inches, and you should be able to get the car into gear.

Or

You can shift into first (or second, then to first if first is blocked out as well), then shift back into reverse (all without letting out the clutch). When you go back to reverse, you'll be able to get in.

I think it has to do with the syncros...

 

That's right. Synchronizers help to achieve a smooth engagement of gears which are moving. When the gears aren't moving the synchros don't help at all.

Perhaps you are waiting too long between disengaging the clutch and moving the gear shift lever. When the clutch is disengaged and the vehicle isn't moving, all the rotating components in the transmission slow down and then stop. Shifting into a synchronized gear becomes more difficult in this situation.

Try flooring the clutch pedal and shifting into Reverse immediately. That may help.

 

When I first started driving a stick, I always either grinded into reverse, or sometimes had trouble engaging all the way in reverse. For me, putting it into a forward gear and then back to reverse quickly solves both of these issues. Sometimes in my Acura, it takes a few tries to get it fully engaged in reverse, but I just sit there and move it into different forward gears and back into reverse.

 

yeah in the owners manual somewhere it said that it may not let you put it in reverse sometimes w/ out letting out the clutch fully then re-engaging it

 

I always thought the problem was because the reverse gear *has no* synchronizer. This is why you have to time it just right, and sometimes it will grind if the engine is running too fast (try blipping the throttle just before you put it in reverse, it ain't pretty)

Justin

 

thats right... the reverse gear lacks synchromesh ... well from what i know... and it is naturally tougher to get into gear unless you shift quickly and with some force...
we all have that problem... so yea just shift quicker or roll a coup[la feet in neutral that should help

 

I thought the same thing, but I looked in the factory service manual and the exploded view diagram of the 5-speed clearly shows Reverse gear synchronizer parts.