Reverse Lock-Out Issue

[Matt M PA]

I got a ’96 RT about a month ago and have twice lightly “grinded” what I think was reverse.

(I also have a 2000 GTS I bough new, so it is possible it was boneheaded shifting with the clutch engagement being so different from the other)

Tonight, I had the console out to put a short throw shifter lever in. (I will post about this in a new thread….but we machined one that is really nice) Since the skip-shift works, I was considering swapping the two solenoids. I noticed that with the key out I can force the trans over to reverse…but once the key is on…it slides right over. Since skip-shift and the odometer work, I assume the problem is not the speed sensor.

I am also assuming that since it does go “on and off” with the key that the solenoid itself should be okay.

Anyone have a thought? Thanks!

 

[dave6666]

"I noticed that with the key out I can force the trans over to reverse…but once the key is on…it slides right over."

There is no difference between those 2. The reverse lockout activates at 5 mph I think so sitting there at 0 mph should be no difference trying to go to reverse whether the key is on or off. The clutch should make no difference in this function. It is a stand alone attribute that if it is malfunctioning it is the transmission itself, the peripherals like the solenoid, or maybe the signal from the chassis wiring etc.

And past tense of grind is ground.

 

[Matt M PA]

dave6666 thanks for the reply.

My understanding...perhaps faulty...is that the reverse lock-out was "on" by default. Once the signal is grounded, it allows the selection of reverse. Once the vehicle reaches (I think) 3MPH the reverse lock-out solenoid is not grounded thus preventing shifting to reverse while moving forward. This solenoid would not be grounded key off.

My thinking was key on; grounded. Key off; not grounded. Once over 3MPH...grounded...sensed by the speed sensor.

In fact, I just went out to the 2000...and key on allows shifting to reverse...key off does not.

Yes, I do understand past tense of "grind". This is why it was in quotes. I was hoping to avoid the confusion of electrical "ground" in this thread.

 

[dave6666]

On the '96... I wonder if instead of the reverse mechanism having a malfunction if your 5/6 synchro is at the end of it's life and in actuality you're just grindeding 5th?

And on key-on versus key-off, I put my '01 in reverse all the time with key-off as that is what the manual says to use when holding the vehicle on a slope in addition to the e-brake. Of which I have the much less useful for that purpose DBB spot calipers. I mean, um, e-brake calipers

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

On my 96' RT, I was able to get the shifter into reverse with no probs, but as soon as I let out on the clutch, it would grind and the car wouldn't move. this happened maybe 33%of the time. I replaced the tranny and that cured the problem. Once my old tranny was torn down by the person who bought it as a core, he said the problem was a broken thrust washer

 

[Matt M PA]

Well guys...thanks for the thoughts. I drove the car today since my newfangled shifter shaft install and reverse lock-out seems to be behaving.

I'll have to watch for that reverse issue, v10speedluvr.

 

[Joseph Dell]

Well guys...thanks for the thoughts. I drove the car today since my newfangled shifter shaft install and reverse lock-out seems to be behaving.

I'll have to watch for that reverse issue, v10speedluvr.

Thursday my car would go into reverse. Friday it wouldn't. Turned out tube loose connection on the reverse lock-out wiring harness that goes to the tranny. 90 minutes with a multimeter, some dialectic grease, and a paperclip and I was working again. In retrospect, 5 min and a paperclip would have done it... Though the grease might have helped too...