I just purchased a 1989 GXL, with relatively low mileage (65k) as a 1st car for son and bondng project. We understand it spent most of the past two years driving around some stables in Alta Dena. We cleaned up the engine a bit, removed a few ounces or so of accorns from the air filter box (roasted them on its first trip home) and took it for a smog test. It passed 1st try.

New issue developed as the automatic seems to have lost reverse. Plan is to now check the fluid level, and if that doesnt work, check the shifter linkage.

Open to any other suggestions, before I bother my friend again (he spent several hours inspecting with me near the stables).

 

sounds like the car has had a rough life. Good luck with the build.

 

Welcome.

What do you mean by stables?

Try lucas transmission stabilizer. It worked wonders on a 240sx auto trans for me.
If not it might be time to swap the trans.

 

Horse stables.

 

any suggestions short of rebuild?

Fluid and shift lever check out ok.

 

nice 2 meet cha.

 

you sure the fluid is good? has it been flushed?

what happens when you attempt to reverse? any jerks or grinds or just nothing at all? maybe it's not engaging or the reverse lockout isn't working

 

I can feel it trying to engage, but never quite gets there. The fluid looks good, records show it was flushed/replaced 5000 miles ago.

 

how many miles does it have on it?

 

Carfax seems to verify and the engine runs good.

 

Do you have any pictures of your car?

 

Congrats, hope your car gets fixed.