Reverse Gear Problem

[threeofnine]

Hi all,

I am new to the forum, but have owned my Zook for 1 year.

It is a Vitara SWB 1997 Manual 2ltr 4cyc.

I have a problem with my Reverse Gear (Manual Gear Box), and was wondering if anyone has come across this problem before.

There appears to be nothing wrong with the gear box itself, all gears shift perfectly, and slide into gear without any problem or noise.

This includes reverse, except that on occasions, reverse disappears. You can push the stick to the right, but it will not move back into reverse. It feels like there is something physically preventing the gear shift from moving back. You can put it into 5th no problem, as well as all other gears, but not reverse. Then after some time, the problem disappears.

I have been told that a common cause of this is the bush that the shifter sits in, sometimes comes out (when you remove the gear shift), and gets stuck, stopping the bush housing from moving, but this is not the case, as I can see (and have removed and re-installed) the bush.

As a side note, my reverse lights have also begun to randomly come on, could this be related?

Thanks in advance for you assistance.

threeofnine

[christover1]

just a guess, but maybe the reverse sender has come loose, explaining jamming and lights comin on??
often broken or worn gearbox mounts etc can cause that, too. good luck, christover

[85zook]

let the clutch out slighty and it should slide through.

[Beastmavster]

Let clutch out and back in and then try putting it into reverse again... I had this occasionally, but it's actually quite common in other cars too - I've faced the same problem in toyotas and datsuns before too.

[bigsteve]

Let clutch out and back in and then try putting it into reverse again... I had this occasionally, but it's actually quite common in other cars too - I've faced the same problem in toyotas and datsuns before too.

You took the words out of my mouth

My old man gave me some mechanics explanation of the cause of this but I didn't listen.

[muppet_man67]

I find that If it isnt going in I put it in 4 then back ito reverse and it always goes in. It had me a bit nervouse when it happened during my driving test during my reverse park and I didnt know what to do but hey I passed didnt I.

[85zook]

the reason for the clutch thing is that reverse gear doesnt have a synchroniser so if the clutch doesnt disengage properly it wont go into reverse.

[threeofnine]

Thankyou for your replies.

You have given me a few leads to try, I did not think about the clutch not disengaging properly.

I had already tried the basics, different gears, driving forward in 1st, letting the clutch out. This problem only began after removing the gear leaver during the installation of a body lift.

I am considering taking out the gear box, and having a look at the selector unit, around where the gear leaver went in. Also going to check the clutch as well, and make sure that everything is working ok there. While I am at it, I am going to check the reverse switch.

Hmm, looks like I have a busy weekend.

Three of Nine.