Car won't go into reverse

[ROBW9999]

Hi guys, I did several searches to see what the problem might be but never really came across a resolved issue. I have a 2000GT with the T45 and as the the title says, it just won't go into reverse

The other day when backing out of a parking spot the shifter did this weird shaking thing, worried me at the time but it didn't do it again (that was also the first time it did that.).

Today as I went to leave and as I was backing out it just wouldn't go into R.... I eventually got it to go in after many many tries and moved it but didn't leave as I didn't want to get stuck somewhere if it's a bigger problem... Tried it again a few moments later and back to the same stuff...

I tried pushing the clutch in and out, putting it into 1st, 2nd, etc... then reverse... no luck. The forward direction appears to be fine.

Has anyone experienced this? Or know what is wrong?

I appreciate any help and thanks as always guys:SNSign:

 

[evil281]

ive had the same problems on random days it just wont go in reverse on my t-45, dont know why i just keep trying and it finally goes, but maybe ur clutch isnt engaging properly

 

[ROBW9999]

ive had the same problems on random days it just wont go in reverse on my t-45, dont know why i just keep trying and it finally goes, but maybe ur clutch isnt engaging properly

Yeah, pretty much the whole time I've had the car there would be random times that it wouldn't go in on the first try.... but never even close to this bad...

I was thinking the clutch thing too...I did put on an steeda quadrant and firewall adjuster several months back, I guess it wouldn't hurt to mess with that stuff a little bit to see if it helps.

If the clutch was infact not engaging properly wouldn't it affect the other gears too? Reverse is the only one as of now..

 

[evil281]

i dont know really i guess maybe its that reverse is just a way different gear? try checking ur steeda stuff

 

[BurningRubber]

I know you said you put it into first or second, but here is what I usually do.

When it does not want to go into reverse (pretty common), I put it into 5th and let the clutch out a little bit to get things moving in the trans. After that it slides right in.

It has been very stubborn about going into reverse sometimes and that always makes it work.

 

[ROBW9999]

I know you said you put it into first or second, but here is what I usually do.

When it does not want to go into reverse (pretty common), I put it into 5th and let the clutch out a little bit to get things moving in the trans. After that it slides right in.

It has been very stubborn about going into reverse sometimes and that always makes it work.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll have to give that a shot tomorrow, can't hurt

I'm always scared about stuff going in the trans since I put the longtubes on (5 years ago lol) If it has to come out again, there may be a t56 going in it's place

 

[ROBW9999]

well I messed with again for a while today and was able to get it into reverse once over a thirty minute period

 

[BurningRubber]

Do you still have the stock clutch quadrant/adjuster?

If so, try this.

While the car is off, put the shifter into 1st gear.

Put your foot underneath the clutch pedal and lift up on the clutch. It may or may not click. If it does, it just adjusted itself.

That is Ford's way to adjust a stock clutch system, so it's not too likely it will be a magic fix, but it only takes about 30 seconds to try.

 

[racin366]

If you look on the all ford mustangs forum, there is a similar recent thread and richard, who works for keilser explained it pretty thoroughly, he's an expert with tremec tranny's.

 

[blubullett]

I had a 98 gt with a t45 that would do that. I was told it was a bent shift fork. Third 5th and reverse share the same shift fork I believe and when it bends reverse is the first to be hard to shift into. Or maybe it was just 5th and reverse. Whatever it is, its a good excuse for a t-56.

 

[Mustang5L5]

There is a TSB on the problem. It's a clutch disengagement issue. Reverse is fully synchronized on the t-45 and t-3650, so it should go in provided there is no clutch drag

 

[ROBW9999]

If you look on the all ford mustangs forum, there is a similar recent thread and richard, who works for keilser explained it pretty thoroughly, he's an expert with tremec tranny's.

I'll look that up, thanks for the heads up

There is a TSB on the problem. It's a clutch disengagement issue. Reverse is fully synchronized on the t-45 and t-3650, so it should go in provided there is no clutch drag

I keep reading that it isn't synchronized in the t-45 but is in the 3650....in anycase, does that mean that there is a chance it's possibly a cable problem or something other than the forks as mentioned above?

 

[ROBW9999]

Works now!

Just wanted to post an update to the situation guys....

I messed with the firewall adjuster for a while the other day and I was able to get it into gear more often but still like 1 out of 20

So before setting up any appointments at shops... who wanted $150 to diagnose the problem before anything, I went ahead changed out the fluid with some fresh stuff I had sitting on the shelf.

Works like a champ now! Took it around down and went into reverse smoothly everytime Overall the shifts were alot smoother as well... I guess it just really needed it

Thank you everyone for your suggestions, you're all very helpful everytime I need something

That being said, I'm gonna go find some wood to knock on...you know, just incase