ZF 6-speed STILL not finding reverse.:-o
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
ZF 6-speed STILL not finding reverse.:-o
Vette colleagues,
Issue: Reverse has been more and more difficult to engage these past 6 months. Problem started - barely noticeable extra effort to engage. Now it's nearly impossible to engage reverse. (I've got the COLLAR type mechanism, where you lift up collar to engage reverse.)
My Vette history: I'm original owner '94 C4 coupe, with 38k miles. I don't dog it much, and I'm careful with tranny (no grinding gears and such!)
Some suggestions from forum:
- Check clutch fluid. I checked it, and it's full.
- Put tranny in 4th, then into reverse. Tried that, along with other gears. That doesn't seem to help.
- Check reverse lock-out solenoid, or associated fuses. As far as I can tell, there's a gear selection solenoid, but not one strictly devoted to reverse. I checked all fuses, they're OK.
I'm thinking it's the linkage mechanism, associated with the lift-up collar . . . you guys have any other suggestions?????
Thanks!
Ron D.
Issue: Reverse has been more and more difficult to engage these past 6 months. Problem started - barely noticeable extra effort to engage. Now it's nearly impossible to engage reverse. (I've got the COLLAR type mechanism, where you lift up collar to engage reverse.)
My Vette history: I'm original owner '94 C4 coupe, with 38k miles. I don't dog it much, and I'm careful with tranny (no grinding gears and such!)
Some suggestions from forum:
- Check clutch fluid. I checked it, and it's full.
- Put tranny in 4th, then into reverse. Tried that, along with other gears. That doesn't seem to help.
- Check reverse lock-out solenoid, or associated fuses. As far as I can tell, there's a gear selection solenoid, but not one strictly devoted to reverse. I checked all fuses, they're OK.
I'm thinking it's the linkage mechanism, associated with the lift-up collar . . . you guys have any other suggestions?????
Thanks!
Ron D.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,604
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Contact Bill Boudreaux @ www.zfdoc.com
You can email him or call him. He knows everything there is to know about the ZF6spd tranny and will help to troubleshoot your problem.
Tell him Jeff from Phx sent ya'....
You can email him or call him. He knows everything there is to know about the ZF6spd tranny and will help to troubleshoot your problem.
Tell him Jeff from Phx sent ya'....
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 385
Likes: 8
From: north branford ct
Originally Posted by JEFNLSA
Contact Bill Boudreaux @ www.zfdoc.com
You can email him or call him. He knows everything there is to know about the ZF6spd tranny and will help to troubleshoot your problem.
Tell him Jeff from Phx sent ya'....
You can email him or call him. He knows everything there is to know about the ZF6spd tranny and will help to troubleshoot your problem.
Tell him Jeff from Phx sent ya'....
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 2
From: Little Rock Arkansas
Originally Posted by rdefonce
Vette colleagues,
Issue: Reverse has been more and more difficult to engage these past 6 months. Problem started - barely noticeable extra effort to engage. Now it's nearly impossible to engage reverse. (I've got the COLLAR type mechanism, where you lift up collar to engage reverse.)
My Vette history: I'm original owner '94 C4 coupe, with 38k miles. I don't dog it much, and I'm careful with tranny (no grinding gears and such!)
Some suggestions from forum:
- Check clutch fluid. I checked it, and it's full.
- Put tranny in 4th, then into reverse. Tried that, along with other gears. That doesn't seem to help.
- Check reverse lock-out solenoid, or associated fuses. As far as I can tell, there's a gear selection solenoid, but not one strictly devoted to reverse. I checked all fuses, they're OK.
I'm thinking it's the linkage mechanism, associated with the lift-up collar . . . you guys have any other suggestions?????
Thanks!
Ron D.
Issue: Reverse has been more and more difficult to engage these past 6 months. Problem started - barely noticeable extra effort to engage. Now it's nearly impossible to engage reverse. (I've got the COLLAR type mechanism, where you lift up collar to engage reverse.)
My Vette history: I'm original owner '94 C4 coupe, with 38k miles. I don't dog it much, and I'm careful with tranny (no grinding gears and such!)
Some suggestions from forum:
- Check clutch fluid. I checked it, and it's full.
- Put tranny in 4th, then into reverse. Tried that, along with other gears. That doesn't seem to help.
- Check reverse lock-out solenoid, or associated fuses. As far as I can tell, there's a gear selection solenoid, but not one strictly devoted to reverse. I checked all fuses, they're OK.
I'm thinking it's the linkage mechanism, associated with the lift-up collar . . . you guys have any other suggestions?????
Thanks!
Ron D.
-Jeb
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by jburnett
I had the same problem with mine years ago... Turned out to be the collar itself. As you know it's plastic and through years of use it had developed a barely visible hairline crack around the set-screw that holds it to the lockout actuator rod. When I'd pull up on it it would pull past the detent in the rod just enough to make it hard to get into reverse... Eventually it wouldn't at all. I bought a new collar and setscrew from GM and it solved the problem.
-Jeb
-Jeb
Regarding the collar, what is involved to replace the collar . . . does the console have to be removed to access the gizmo?
That would be great if it's only a few inexpensive pieces I can replace myself.
Ron D.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 484
Likes: 5
From: Madison Wisconsin
It's not bad at all. ZFDOC actually has some good tips. Here are the basics.
1. Remove the shift pattern cap on to of the shift. It snaps in, but be careful not to break the tabs.
2. Pull out the medal wedge that's under the shift pattern cap and is now visible. This is a little tricky. Sometimes it's really stuck. You need a fairly narrow plyers or vise grips. Bill recommends removing your targa top and standing up while pulling out the wedge. I was able to get it out by just sitting in the driver's seat. Just be careful not to pull too hard and bang the roof.
3. Once the medal wedge is out you can unscrew the shift ****.
4. Remove the very small set screw in the collar and pull off the collar.
I think that's everything.
Good Luck,
Jim
1. Remove the shift pattern cap on to of the shift. It snaps in, but be careful not to break the tabs.
2. Pull out the medal wedge that's under the shift pattern cap and is now visible. This is a little tricky. Sometimes it's really stuck. You need a fairly narrow plyers or vise grips. Bill recommends removing your targa top and standing up while pulling out the wedge. I was able to get it out by just sitting in the driver's seat. Just be careful not to pull too hard and bang the roof.
3. Once the medal wedge is out you can unscrew the shift ****.
4. Remove the very small set screw in the collar and pull off the collar.
I think that's everything.
Good Luck,
Jim
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Jim,
Thanks for instructions.:-)
I did notice a super-thin hairline crack in the area of lockscrew on collar. I also noticed the simply tightening the darned setscrew solved my problem; I've got reverse now!!!!!!!
Ron D.
Thanks for instructions.:-)
I did notice a super-thin hairline crack in the area of lockscrew on collar. I also noticed the simply tightening the darned setscrew solved my problem; I've got reverse now!!!!!!!
Ron D.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
The collar only prevents the shifter from sliding to the right. The transmission/intermediate shaft itself could only prevent you from pulling the shifter down.
First question, are you having trouble pulling it right or down?
EDIT: I hate when people post before reading the whole thread!
First question, are you having trouble pulling it right or down?
EDIT: I hate when people post before reading the whole thread!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 2
From: Little Rock Arkansas
Originally Posted by rdefonce
Jim,
Thanks for instructions.:-)
I did notice a super-thin hairline crack in the area of lockscrew on collar. I also noticed the simply tightening the darned setscrew solved my problem; I've got reverse now!!!!!!!
Ron D.
Thanks for instructions.:-)
I did notice a super-thin hairline crack in the area of lockscrew on collar. I also noticed the simply tightening the darned setscrew solved my problem; I've got reverse now!!!!!!!
Ron D.
-Jeb
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by jburnett
You should go on and replace the collar though... That set-screw will back out again if there's already a crack in it. I think I paid about 9 bucks for a new collar and screw when mine did that. Glad you found the problem...
-Jeb
-Jeb
Ron D.
