Hey guys. I recently bought an FC as a project and it seems to be stuck in reverse. Neutral is reverse and I can only shift into first and second. Every other gear is seemingly nonexistent. Is there a way to get it in neutral without removing the transmission? I'd like to see if the motor will start before I start taking it apart.

I've tried starting the car with the clutch pedal depressed and it just starts rolling backwards under its own power. No noises or anything. The car will also not roll freely with the clutch depressed.

 

I think I've found what I'm looking for. https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/transmission-stuck-reverse-575825/
One of the guys on here recommends removing the reverse light, and sticking a screwdriver in there to force it out of reverse. I was curious, if my clutch is not working would it prevent this from being able to happen?
Also, Number 11 below depicts the right part, correct?

 

It could also be a piece of shifter bushing stuck in the shifter hole that Prevents it from moving anywhere.
A simple look by taking the surround off,unbolting 3 10mm bolts and pulling straight up on the shifter will allow you to see inside the shifter hole to find out of anything is jammed in there.

 

I pulled the shifter off, but all I could see was what looked like a bent paper clip, and if I pushed it to the right there was a solid piece of metal. It appears to be full of fluid.(is that bad?) Instead of 10mm bolts it had allen heads. It definitely looks like it's been messed with before.

 

The paper clip part centers the shifter. The fluid is a normal part of the shifter to lubricate things.

 

looks normal.Just to make sure you can stick your finger in the fluid and check for debris.
Now in order to put the shifter back in you can place it on the clip ..lean it like this: \
(head towards driver's side)
slowly move the bottom in and you should feel it drop back in.

 

Jack the rear of the car up to take any load off the drive train and try the screwdriver in the switch hole thing. If unsuccessful drop the driveshaft.

 

Appreciate the input, guys. I found a few pieces of plastic in the shifter, got them cleaned out and put everything back together. I haven't been able to get under the car because it's rained everyday I've had it, of course.

 

The thread you found suggesting to pop the transmission out of reverse with a screwdriver is the same thing that saved me 10 years ago. I was driving cross country in my FC and I was filling up with gas in Rawlings, Wyoming. A tiny *** town in the middle of nowhere. I parked the car in the parking lot, came out ready to hit the road and when backing out of my spot the transmission stayed in reverse. I also was able to shift into "1st and 2nd" gear but it would always go backwards.

To fix it I punched a hole in the side of the trans tunnel right where the hole for the sensor (# 11) would be. Stuck a flat head in there and push the reverse gear out of the way and I was back on the road. I have no idea how or why it happened, but this got me the heck out of Rawlings, Wyoming and back to Cali lol.

 

This has never happened to me personally, but if I remember correctly the original Miata (NA) had a similar problem, and the only way to fix it was the screwdriver method.

It was fixed on all Miatas NB and later.

I'm not sure if even the Miata community has found a permanent fix.

 

Found it, here is a write-up. Have never tried any of this myself, so I can't verify any of it as accurate.

https://www.miata.net/garage/stuckreverse.html

 

I've been trying for a few hours to do the "screwdriver" trick but I can't find anything short enough to fit in there. Has anyone found success with other tools?
I stuck a hook awl in there, but couldn't find the leverage to remove it from reverse. I will try again tomorrow when I have better resources.
P.S. Bled clutch and it has since come back to life, apparently I was doing it wrong. Lol

 

Damn, just re-read your post and found my answer. Thanks again, lol.

 

lol Yeah, I did it from inside the car. Much easier! But you have to live with a hole in your trans tunnel. I still have it there to this day.

 

Definitely easier, lol. It took me a whole minute once I got the hole drilled. Fortunately it didn't happen to me on the road, I never carry drill bits with me.

 

Many thanks for the information on this thread! It was extremely easy to do. I just used a short 1/4" bolt and ground down the end flat so it kind of looked like a flat screwdriver. It took almost no force to slide.