140 mph
Accidentally Hit Reverse
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas 2005 National Champs in Football and Baseball.
I don't remember actually pushing on the shifter all that hard, but I was trying to move it pretty fast. That leads me to believe that I may have beat the syncro's.
I have learned my lesson. From now on I will never exceed 2500 rpm or go faster than 10 mph under the posted speed limit. I will count to 3 between each shift, moving the shifter slowly as I count. And I'm reconnecting the CAGS. And I'm putting Barbra Streisand CDs in all 12 of the changer slots.
Or none of the above.
I have learned my lesson. From now on I will never exceed 2500 rpm or go faster than 10 mph under the posted speed limit. I will count to 3 between each shift, moving the shifter slowly as I count. And I'm reconnecting the CAGS. And I'm putting Barbra Streisand CDs in all 12 of the changer slots.
Or none of the above.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 40
From: Orangevale California
St. Jude Donor '10
I hit Reverse once myself while attempting to get it into 5th. Thankfully I was just putting along on the freeway when I did it.
It does however make me wonder, why isn't first gear up and all the way to the left. My old Borg-Warner 4spd had that pattern and I can tell you I had ZERO issues hitting Reverse by mistake.
It does however make me wonder, why isn't first gear up and all the way to the left. My old Borg-Warner 4spd had that pattern and I can tell you I had ZERO issues hitting Reverse by mistake.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 240
Likes: 11
From: Plano Texas
Oldtimer
Tell your dealer to check the reverse lockout solenoid & the powertrain control module:
Following is how it works:
Reverse Inhibit Description and Operation
The reverse inhibit solenoid is a safety feature which prevents an inadvertent shift into reverse at speeds above 5 km/h (3 mph). The system consist of the following components:
The powertrain control module (PCM).
The reverse inhibit solenoid.
With the ignition ON, battery voltage is supplied directly to the reverse inhibit solenoid. At forward speeds above 5 kp/h (3 mph) the PCM grounds the control circuit of the reverse inhibit solenoid. This energizes the solenoid and mechanically blocks the shift lever from going into the REVERSE position.
Following is how it works:
Reverse Inhibit Description and Operation
The reverse inhibit solenoid is a safety feature which prevents an inadvertent shift into reverse at speeds above 5 km/h (3 mph). The system consist of the following components:
The powertrain control module (PCM).
The reverse inhibit solenoid.
With the ignition ON, battery voltage is supplied directly to the reverse inhibit solenoid. At forward speeds above 5 kp/h (3 mph) the PCM grounds the control circuit of the reverse inhibit solenoid. This energizes the solenoid and mechanically blocks the shift lever from going into the REVERSE position.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 4
From: Warrenville Il
Were you releasing the clutch after you thought you had it in the right gear only to find you hit the reverse lockout gate. If so the sound you heard was most likely like not getting the shifter fully into a gear and causing it to grind and pop out of gear. It happens quite often with missing shifts in these cars, due to the long linkage to the trans in the rear. If that's all you did, then don't worry, probably no serious damage, just a little shaving off of the life of the trans gear syncros. Happens to us all the time. Maybe time to get a short throw shifter. It becomes harder to overshoot the gates with a shorter lever.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,371
Likes: 5
From: Mission Viejo, CA
St. Jude Donor '10, '15-'16
My lockout has stuck in the disabled position before, letting the shifter move quite easily into R from 4th. Luckily I wasn't ripping shifts so there was only a little bit of grinding before I was able to back off.
It has done that twice, both times it was very apparent that the lockout was not working. After wiggling the shifter left-right through the neutral range the lockout would start working again.
It has done that twice, both times it was very apparent that the lockout was not working. After wiggling the shifter left-right through the neutral range the lockout would start working again.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,285
Likes: 91
From: South Dakota/California
I have learned my lesson. From now on I will never exceed 2500 rpm or go faster than 10 mph under the posted speed limit. I will count to 3 between each shift, moving the shifter slowly as I count. And I'm reconnecting the CAGS. And I'm putting Barbra Streisand CDs in all 12 of the changer slots.
Or none of the above.
Or none of the above.
the putting "Barbra Steisand CDs" in anywhere makes it a "none of the above" 
Last edited by Dynomite; Feb 6, 2010 at 09:33 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,628
Likes: 397
From: Madison Wi
Unless your reverse lockout failed, it is almost impossible to hit reverse by accident. You would have to be shifting extremely hard. After having my tranny out for a clutch swap, mine got stuck to where it locked out reverse even when stopped. It took both hands and quite a bit of effort to get it into reverse.
By default reverse on our cars is locked out. Only at speeds below 3 mph does the PCM send power to the reverse solonoid to unlock it. As Jeff said, it is possible to overpower the lock out, but requires both hands and believe me, you do not do it accidentally while shifting with one hand.
I'm guessing you simply missed a gear while shifting. It happens to all of us who drive aggressively on occasion. What happens, is your coordination between your clutch foot and your shifting hand get screwed up when the shifter does not go into gear as expected. This leaves you applying load to the driveline when the transmission is not completely in a gear. As a result the transmission complains by making a grinding sound.
Try not to do it again (I'm sure you will, though) , but it's probably just fine.
As the old saying goes... "If you can't find 'em,.. grind 'em!"
Last edited by TraceZ; Feb 7, 2010 at 12:44 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 986
Likes: 4
From: Galaxy Traveler
Nothing wrong with digging up an old thread from a search. If there was it would have a time lock on it. This one had more valuable information added to it after the resurection.
Funny this should surface. I just experienced this while normally shifting from 4th to 5th this morning. Just barely caught a little grind since I wasn't slamming. I had a hard time getting the plug back on the top solonoid when I put the tranny back in so I need to check that and make sure it didn't come loose.
Funny this should surface. I just experienced this while normally shifting from 4th to 5th this morning. Just barely caught a little grind since I wasn't slamming. I had a hard time getting the plug back on the top solonoid when I put the tranny back in so I need to check that and make sure it didn't come loose.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,628
Likes: 397
From: Madison Wi
Nothing wrong with digging up an old thread from a search. If there was it would have a time lock on it. This one had more valuable information added to it after the resurection.
Funny this should surface. I just experienced this while normally shifting from 4th to 5th this morning. Just barely caught a little grind since I wasn't slamming. I had a hard time getting the plug back on the top solonoid when I put the tranny back in so I need to check that and make sure it didn't come loose.
Funny this should surface. I just experienced this while normally shifting from 4th to 5th this morning. Just barely caught a little grind since I wasn't slamming. I had a hard time getting the plug back on the top solonoid when I put the tranny back in so I need to check that and make sure it didn't come loose.
I accidentally left the reverse solonoid on my T56 equipped Camaro unplugged once. With it unplugged getting it into reverse requires both hands it is so stiff.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 405
From: Bmore Maryland
If you're hitting reverse and it grinds....there is something wrong. There should be a block of plate that will prevent you from trying to go into gear. You might at least want to make sure all the plugs are plugged into the tranny. And if you're still underwarranty i'd suggest you go complain to the dealer about it. The shifter *shouldn't* be able to go far enough to grind the synchros.
Chris
Chris
I would get it checked. It should be blocked from going into reverse at speed.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 986
Likes: 4
From: Galaxy Traveler
Mine must have been an intermittent thing. I drove it later today and checked to see if it would go that far to the right and it would not. Wife said it did it to her the other day though. Kinda worries me.
