Rep Power: 0

Hi.
My 1998 Civic LX 5speed is stuck in reverse.

It had become a little tough shifting gears in the cold (detroit) recently.
But the other day it was suddenly extremely difficult to shift.
When I parked for the night, I could not get it into reverse.
It made horrible grinding sounds.
After 4 tries, I got it in reverse I turned the car off.

I checked the clutch fluid level, it was low, so I filled it.
No luck.
The clutch feels totally loose and I cannot get it out of reverse to save my life.
And I don't want to force it and cause any more damage.

I cannot get to the transmission fluid because of the tight space my car is parked in.
I think I have to have it towed to the mechanic.

Any thoughts? and thanks much.

 
Rep Power: 188

So the clutch feels loose now? sounds like a broke shift cable...

Here is something someone else did for that issue but i still think it might be the cable..

"Get into the car and start the car.....rev the engine up like your going to take off going in reverse, apply pressure to put the shifter into neutral while slowly letting out the clutch...keep applying pressure.....it should pop into neutral after a little grinding. Now you will be happy and everything...but when you try and go into reverse....it will block you out. do the same thing above to get the car back into reverse. work it in a few times like this and it should go back to normal.


its worth a try, I got locked out of reverse once and a buddy of mine told me this little trick. I tried it and it worked.....my tranny went back to normal and its been working normal ever since(8 months or so)."

 
Rep Power: 0

thanks Gunner.
I kept working the clutch and it finally popped out of reverse after several nudges.
Although it's still has restistance going into reverse and 1st. I left in it 4th.
Taking it in to my mechanic tomorrow.

 
Rep Power: 0

there's a TSB out for that problem for poor lubrication of the output shaft where the throw out bearing rides causing hard engagement of 1st and reverse gear

 
Rep Power: 0

also your car has a change rod not a cable if the linkage was broken it would just flap around all over the place and feel like there isnt any gear to shift into its a clutch releas problem