what to do transmission wont let me put it in reverse. all the other gears works fine. i can't even get it in the gear in reverse. is my trans toast? if so what are my options? help me out guys

 

I had that problem with my Contour SVT. If I rolled the car a bit forward or backward, it then let it in gear. The synchros were going bad. Try putting it in 1st and roll a few inches forward.

I haven't experienced it yet with my 6mt though.

 

It's probably a problem with the lockout. You can pull up the trim that holds the shifter boot and inspect the lockout. You'll see if it's working properly or not.

 

that happened with both my manuals (93 altima & 97 maxima). the altima had a bad syncro but the maxima did it its whole life.

B

 

First check the easiest free way, lift the trim as posted above and make sure the lock-out isn't for some reason keeping it from going into gear, if that checks out. My opinion is synchros.

 

Agree to check the lockout. This is more than likely the cause.

Also, try to put it in reverse with the car off and the start it.

Not 100% sure with a Max, but reverse doesn't usually have synchros. Hence the reason you will grind if you are moving at all.

 

i'd rather lose R then any other gear.. at least you can open your door and fred flinstone it backwards LOL

my 6mt is currently going back to nissan and they are putting a new one in for me..i had the same problem.. except mine was 6th gear.. wouldnt grind or anything..felt like trying to shift into first going +25mph if that makes sense...brick wall..

my advice ..pretty similiar to what others said..

pull off trim..only 3 things to unclip.. light and harness for hazards..and button on boot..
just pry it from where 4th gear would be you shouldnt break it..it lifts at an angle to get out from under the climate control...
you will see that when you pull the lever to go to R it lifts a small plastic 'finger' that then goes over and on top of a 'wall' that it should slide down...will make more sense once you have it apart...you should see markings and like grease lines of where it was moving on the plastic..
IF it goes on top of the lockout wall and looks like it should slide down freely but feels like your going to break the lever in half if you pull any harder then well.. it could be a few things.. but most likly synchros or fork or something else got messed up and time to start hunting down a tranny...
IF it is not going on top of the 'wall' .. well then you should be in luck..R is still there..and some part of the pull up mechanism is messed up and prob an easy diy

my guess is the latter..sorry.. and good luck...

 

if the lockout is working fine, have you tried letting the clutch out just the tiniest bit while trying to get it in? thats something i have to do all the time

 

Ditto. Forgot to mention that.

And that is another indicator that there are no synchros for reverse. Straight cut gears have to be lined up.

 

I don't know if reverse has a syncro but if you shut the car off you should be able to get into any gear regardless of the syncros. If you can't get it into reverse with the engine off you have a problem somewhere else.

 

couple of years ago, it happened to me on a rented neon when i was learning stick, forward gears were fine but wouldnt go in reverse. Turned out that there was zero tranny fluid, i mean it was dry as it can be, i doubt it is your problem though. I dont think something like that could be overlooked by your personal car, rental much more probable. Take it a tranny specialist, get a diagnosis, wont cost much.

 

yeah i checked all of this still wont let me put it in reverse gear.. i would like to take it to trans special but i can roll out back so im scared to take my car anywhere so it is just sitting there. my guess is it is gone. i rather put used trans and to get it rebuild. does 2004-2006 maxima 6mt bolt on or something i have to do?? does it matter if i get the locking def manual or non locking? i have non locking trans