Accidentally Hit Reverse
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas 2005 National Champs in Football and Baseball.
Accidentally Hit Reverse
Tried search and found nothing on this. I, therefore, conclude that I must be the only dumb sh-t on this forum.
So here's my confession and question: I was wringing out (driving like a crazy man) my '03 6 spd and jammed the shifter into reverse instead of 5th at about 85 mph. Not once, mind you, but twice, just to prove what an idiot I really am. Of course, it didn't actually go into reverse, but it did make some pretty awful sounding grinding noises as it objected to my stick stupidity.
I can detect no problems with the car. Still shifts perfectly in all 7 gears and there is no puddle of oil on the garage floor. The only wetness was on the driver's seat when I did this.
The owner's manual says that the transmission won't go into reverse at speeds above 3 mph (forward, I presume). Did this lock out actually work properly in preventing me actually getting into reverse (thank God) but still giving me the grinding noises? Think I did any real damage?
I'd appreciate feedback from anyone else who pulled this stunt, has a friend who did, or knows more about this than I do.
So here's my confession and question: I was wringing out (driving like a crazy man) my '03 6 spd and jammed the shifter into reverse instead of 5th at about 85 mph. Not once, mind you, but twice, just to prove what an idiot I really am. Of course, it didn't actually go into reverse, but it did make some pretty awful sounding grinding noises as it objected to my stick stupidity.
I can detect no problems with the car. Still shifts perfectly in all 7 gears and there is no puddle of oil on the garage floor. The only wetness was on the driver's seat when I did this.
The owner's manual says that the transmission won't go into reverse at speeds above 3 mph (forward, I presume). Did this lock out actually work properly in preventing me actually getting into reverse (thank God) but still giving me the grinding noises? Think I did any real damage?
I'd appreciate feedback from anyone else who pulled this stunt, has a friend who did, or knows more about this than I do.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 37,329
Likes: 12
From: Plano Texas
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
CI-VI Car Show Winner
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Like you said, it cannot be done at speed.
Not sure what it is that you heard grinding (syncro's?), but as long as you are not having issues - put it behind you (and not in reverse
).
If you have an aftermarket shifter, might be a good time to have someone verify it is functioning correctly.
Not sure what it is that you heard grinding (syncro's?), but as long as you are not having issues - put it behind you (and not in reverse
).If you have an aftermarket shifter, might be a good time to have someone verify it is functioning correctly.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,947
Likes: 24,703
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
If she still shifts fine, I doubt you did any real damage to the tranny. I've accidentally hit reverse a time or two and have not had any problems.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 3
From: Life moves pretty fast... if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it!
CI 6-8-9 Veteran
Just curious, considering the gearing of the MN6 and the lack of torque and accelleration in 6th gear, what ever possessed you to go to '7th'? Unless of course you were already at 160mph and looking for the next available hyperdrive! Seriously, I doubt if you hurt anything. These cars are pretty tough. Good Luck 
Zuti
Seriously, I doubt if you hurt anything. These cars are pretty tough. Good Luck Zuti
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas 2005 National Champs in Football and Baseball.
Originally Posted by Zuti
Just curious, considering the gearing of the MN6 and the lack of torque and accelleration in 6th gear, what ever possessed you to go to '7th'? Unless of course you were already at 160mph and looking for the next available hyperdrive! Seriously, I doubt if you hurt anything. These cars are pretty tough. Good Luck Zuti
Seriously, I doubt if you hurt anything. These cars are pretty tough. Good Luck ZutiIt is heartening to hear that I'm not the only one who's done this.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
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
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 568
Likes: 0
From: Wichita KS
I had a female jump into my lap while driving one night. One of her legs knocked my automatic into reverse as I was going about 35 mph. The tires locked up and the car died. 
Did not realize what had happened right away until I looked down and saw I was in reverse. I rolled to a stop, put it in park, and it started back up.
Did not realize what had happened right away until I looked down and saw I was in reverse. I rolled to a stop, put it in park, and it started back up.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 0
From: Bada bing bada bling FL
Originally Posted by VinnieR
I was wringing out (driving like a crazy man) my '03 6 spd and jammed the shifter into reverse instead of 5th at about 85 mph.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Tx Got traction?
CI 5-6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
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
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas 2005 National Champs in Football and Baseball.
Originally Posted by JChrisF
The last time I grabbed 5th while driving like a crazy man I was doing 145mph. How did you drive crazy and try for 5th at 85? I can do 85 in 2nd/3rtd gear.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,772
Likes: 1
From: Tampa FL
Originally Posted by JChrisF
The last time I grabbed 5th while driving like a crazy man I was doing 145mph. How did you drive crazy and try for 5th at 85? I can do 85 in 2nd/3rtd gear.
Originally Posted by VinnieR
I was actually trying to shift from 2d to 5th, something I've done about a million times before. (Sort of my own form of the dreaded 1-4 ship shift only my version is 2-5. ) I had accelerated to about 5500 rpm in 1st and 2nd and was going as fast as I really wanted to given the road I was on. So I was just trying to lay off and continue down the road in 5th. Unfortunately, I went brain dead at the exact moment of shifting, pushed the stick too far to the right. and into the reverse gate.
It is heartening to hear that I'm not the only one who's done this.
It is heartening to hear that I'm not the only one who's done this.
..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 0
From: Bada bing bada bling FL
Originally Posted by VinnieR
... and, most frightening of all, people in Buicks and Ford Crown Vics...
We have this problem here as well
Glad to hear Florida is not the only state with this problem 
BTW, it should be illegal for a citizen to drive a white Crown Vic hehe
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,133
Likes: 1
From: ~The DARKSIDE Group~
VinnieR, there is a sensor going bad on your M6, it should lock you out so you can not do what you did. Had mine replaced under warranty a few weeks ago. If you do not get it repalced it will happen again and again with increased regularity.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas 2005 National Champs in Football and Baseball.
Originally Posted by KenI
There is a reverse lockout that can fail. You can also overpower it and force it into reverse if it fails in the lockedout position.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
From: elgin illinois
no biggy reverse isnt sync. thats why you heard it grind what was happening was the cluster gear, idler gear, and the drive gear tried lining up to spin the main shaft the opp. direct (reverse). so it slightly grinds down the edges where those three made contact. as long as you dont do it excessively things will be fine. if you do it excessively that means trany overhaul then you can have fun with some gear ratios and produce massive torque.
thats why you heard it grind what was happening was the cluster gear, idler gear, and the drive gear tried lining up to spin the main shaft the opp. direct (reverse). so it slightly grinds down the edges where those three made contact. as long as you dont do it excessively things will be fine. if you do it excessively that means trany overhaul then you can have fun with some gear ratios and produce massive torque.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas 2005 National Champs in Football and Baseball.
Originally Posted by DRKNGHT
VinnieR, there is a sensor going bad on your M6, it should lock you out so you can not do what you did. Had mine replaced under warranty a few weeks ago. If you do not get it repalced it will happen again and again with increased regularity.