Transmission doesnt get into reverse
 

Hi all again. I have a new weird problem with my 93 RX7. I bought the car like 3 months ago and the only problem that was present with the transmission at that time was that 5th was grinding like the previous owner damaged the synchronizer for it. Anyway, but sometime ago it started doing something very weird: When I go to engage reverse, it feels like there is no reverse at all. There is no "hole" to move the shifter into and I have to try and try for long and even turn the engine off and on or pump the clutch many times. I have checked the fluid and it is fine. It is very strange because I have had cars with clutches that were worn out and they felt totally different. This doesnt feel like a problem with the clutch that I have ever encountered before. And sometimes it works fine. But it is doing it more and more now.3
I really hope it is not a common problem that this cars have and need the transmission to be rebuilt :(
Well, thanks in advance for any insights you can give me...
Leo

the 5th gear syncro grind is very normal. not sure about the reverse thing. never had it happen to me but the 5th gear grind was a pain in my ass

You know, I had a transmission that did the same thing with a broken 5th gear syncro. I still havent cracked it open (I ended up just buying another transmission to rebuild so I could keep driving the 7 around). All I could think up was that a chunk of syncro fell into the selector for reverse (its on the same as 5th) and jammed it up. It usually did it if I missed a shift or if I shifted real hard. Then reverse would go out for a couple minutes or a couple days. Its exactly as you describe though. I tried changing the fluid and messing with the shifter itself to see if it was bumping into something but came to the conclusion that I just needed to rebuild the transmission.

Make sure your shifter is bolted down and isnt backing out all the way, or the plastic bushing isnt breaking apart on the end of the shifter. Ive heard of that causing similiar symptoms.

Same thing it would lock up and keep me out of reverse. When 5th sincro goes out it causes this problem in some cases. I bought j-spec cheaper than rebuild and glad i did, i like it alot better.

Mine did the same after my 10.00 @ 119 mph pass. You'll need to slowly roll the car backwards while you slip it into reverse. Once it's in, work the shifter through the gears a few times to get things lined up again.

Thanks guys, you are always helpful. I think it has something to do with the synchro as you are suggesting since it started happening ( now that I remember ) after one night I did a little race and pushed the car a lot. I guess it is time to start thinking about a new transmission.
Thanks again for the help.
Leo

The 5th synchro will crack into several pieces. It sounds to me that one of those cracked pieces has fallen out of it's original place and is now block the reverse shift.

mine recently stopped going into reverse and i tried the rolling backwards and putting it into gear but i only hear a light buzzing/grinding when i try to get it in. any other ways of freeing up reverse without having to tear it down?

It sometimes works for me to put it in 5th gear and move it a little bit and then try reverse. Also if it doesnt work, just keep trying with different gears just moving the car a little bit with the engine on and then trying reverse.
So far now what I am doing to avoid the problem is to park the car and leave it in reverse before I turn it off. Then next time I start the car, it is already in reverse.
It is a little annoying but it works.
Leo