I've seen a 1989 Maxima SE at the local dealership for $2000 CDN. 200000km - Great condition body and most mechanical. The guy at the dealership said the synchro for reverse is shot. What does this mean? Expensive to fix? Can the car be driven even with this problem?

Thanks

 

??

 

Means one two things:
1) It WON'T go into reverse
2) It's harder than hell to get into reverse(mucho grinding)

So it sounds like it needs a rebuild. Factor that into the purchase price of the car. Rebuilds will cost about $1300 or so.

 

the short answer is basically you'll need a rebuild real soon.
you can shift to forward gears..but to go to reverse you're probably going to grind some gears and make some really ugly noises. drive around w/ friend..when u need to back up tell them to get out and push.

wondering what a syncho is....
http://www.howstuffworks.com/transmission4.htm

 

i think its the same thing that i have wrong with my reverse.... you can put it into reverse but it doesnt stay in reverse .. you have to hold it... and if you dont ... it pops out and if you are trying to go kinda fast in reverse ... when it pops out it sounds like the tranny is going fall out... i am getting the tranny rebuilt though .....that might be what he is talking about... if you found out let me know .. if i have the same problem ..

 

the syncro, iirc, is what allows you to go directly from any gear to any other gear without having to double clutch. since it is shot, you'll just have to make sure you double clutch everytime you want to go in reverse, or hear the grinding noise before it gets in gear.

 

the syncro, iirc, is what allows you to go directly from any gear to any other gear without having to double clutch. since it is shot, you'll just have to make sure you double clutch everytime you want to go in reverse, or hear the grinding noise before it gets in gear.