Me and the g/f had just returned from a couple days in the mountains (those roads sure are fun in the T2 with its new suspension) and we went to park the car. I went up the driveway I keep it in, and we unloaded the car. I then backed it up a little so I could go around and left (I use half of a 2 car garage at neighbor's house) and when I popped it into first and let off the clutch, the car flat DIED. Further inspection reveals that the trans is stuck in reverse, regardless of shifter position. The shifter will go into 1 and 2, but not the other gear positions, and the reverse lights stay lit up regardless. Basically 1 and 2 will engage, but the reverse gear is still engaged too, which locks up the trans. Any ideas how I can get this unstuck? I was in need of a trans rebuld anyway (grinding in 5th, hard shifts and some grinding on high rpm shifting in other gears), so this seals the deal, but I would prefer not to have to pay to flatbed the sucker out to T&R (about a 45 minute drive)

So, any ideas how to unstick it?

 

dude my ******* car did that i was so mad i had just gotten done give my rex hell across a damn and when i parked it i backed up and turned the car of and it wouldn't come out of reverse i have no clue why it did this

 

Yeah my car did that too guys, about a week before the synchros went out completely. You're looking at a rebuild or new tranny. Just to be on the safe side, check your slave cylinder and clutch fluid levels.

 

ok ill do that damn its been awhile since mine did that though! like 4 months ago and i got a new trans mount put on so hopefully ill be on the safe side but i dunno...

 

You should be able to disengage it from reverse even if the clutch is gone or the master cyl is empty. If it is locking the trans up due to being engaged in forward and reverse at the same time, it sounds like ther may be a broken shift fork. This is definitely an internal problem and the trans should be replaced. I say replaced rather than rebuilt because it is usually cheaper to find a good low mileage unit at a salvage yard than to buy new gears and synchros and other internals that may be damaged, worn or ground down. Just remember, you have to remove the trans anyway. Why not just put another newer one back in? I have dealt with these guys in the past and they are true professionals <http://www.mazdarecycling.com/>
---Jeremy

 

if you can reach the clutch slave try and release the fork manually...... might work. probably have to take off the intercooler. if that doesn't work just tow it

 

Sounds like your reverse idler is stuck on the shaft you should deffinately rebuild but it would be cheaper to replace the trans all together if your going to replace why not just go with a tII it should be the same price.

james