c4 7 speed, shifter locked in reverse when starting
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
c4 7 speed, shifter locked in reverse when starting
New experience, my 1988 C4 7 speed manual tran, when depressing clutch and starting car, shifter is locked in reverse and can not be moved to neutral. Normally car is parked in reverse, to start depress clutch, start car and move shifter into neutral. I can not move the shifter --the clutch pedal feels "soft" internal leak in the master cylinder?
I installed this clutch master cylinder myself five years ago. Possibly the slave cylinder? Any suggestions?
I installed this clutch master cylinder myself five years ago. Possibly the slave cylinder? Any suggestions?
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,482
Likes: 3
From: Carmichael ca
New experience, my 1988 C4 7 speed manual tran, when depressing clutch and starting car, shifter is locked in reverse and can not be moved to neutral. Normally car is parked in reverse, to start depress clutch, start car and move shifter into neutral. I can not move the shifter --the clutch pedal feels "soft" internal leak in the master cylinder?
I installed this clutch master cylinder myself five years ago. Possibly the slave cylinder? Any suggestions?
I installed this clutch master cylinder myself five years ago. Possibly the slave cylinder? Any suggestions?
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: North Middlesex MA
New experience, my 1988 C4 7 speed manual tran, when depressing clutch and starting car, shifter is locked in reverse and can not be moved to neutral. Normally car is parked in reverse, to start depress clutch, start car and move shifter into neutral. I can not move the shifter --the clutch pedal feels "soft" internal leak in the master cylinder?
I installed this clutch master cylinder myself five years ago. Possibly the slave cylinder? Any suggestions?
I installed this clutch master cylinder myself five years ago. Possibly the slave cylinder? Any suggestions?
Good luck,
- Jeff
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
Cool tranny. The OD part works in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. I guess the idea was to save fuel around town but that where you have fun shifting thru the gears. It will downshift automatically when you get down on it just like an auto would, then back up when you ease back off it. I generally just leave it off until I get up to highway speed and then use it as a 5th gear.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
C4 this is 4 speed manual with 3 speed overdrive
Once started I can not move the shifter out of reverse. The clutch is depressed when I do this. It has a tendency to lurch back about a few inches. The car must be started with the clutch depressed and the car in reverse.
I am the original owner of this 1988 C4 and the car has only 52,000 miles with the original clutch.
I am the original owner of this 1988 C4 and the car has only 52,000 miles with the original clutch.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Check your clutch fluid first, but at this age, I'm guessing that you have a bad master or slave cylinder. The master is easy to diagnose; if there is (brake) fluid on the inside of the fire wall, where the clutch pedal pushrod goes through, then your master is bad.
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Thanks Tom400, you are correct, I should have done this right away... I know better. The clutch master cylinder reservoir was empty... an external leak. I filled it, pumped the pedal to get pressure and was able to move shifter into neutral. Since I had previously driven the car about 50 miles and simple parked it in the garage, I didn't suspect a leak because the car and shifting had been perfect. thank goodness I made it home. I can replace the clutch master cylinder myself, so no problemo!
As for those interested in the 4 +3 manual tran, my daily driving in overdrive ( not city )gets around 18 to 20mpg and on the highway at steady speed around 23 to 24. In 2nd , 3rd or 4th overdrive, pressing hard on the gas will downshift. The overdrive is activated by a button on the shift ****.
As for those interested in the 4 +3 manual tran, my daily driving in overdrive ( not city )gets around 18 to 20mpg and on the highway at steady speed around 23 to 24. In 2nd , 3rd or 4th overdrive, pressing hard on the gas will downshift. The overdrive is activated by a button on the shift ****.
