My reverse is extremely HARD to get into when car is running and imposible to get into when car is off, however when on run 2 position everything is smooth as butter, what can i do???? please help!

 

It is definately the reverse lockout solenoid but you would have to see the electrical schematic to see where the problem is.

 

already replaced it, is there a fuse on the vettes like there is on the f-bodys? like eng sens fuse?? please help! thx

 

In the underhood fusebox check fuse 19 ENGIGN1 10 amp.

 

i'll check it when i get back home and post. thx guys!

 

checked fuse and is good, any other ideas???

 

Here is the schematic. Looks like the next thing to check would be relay 42. Have you checked for power at fuse 19?

 

On my '98 MN6,it will NOT shift into reverse unless the ignition is on.

Not that that's going to help your "won't go in while it's running" problem... you've definitely got a reverse lockout problem.

Seems like,though,that if it's the lockout solenoid ,relay,or fuse thats bad,it shouldn't go into reverse at all,running or not

 

changed fuse, relay and still the same. any other ideas? there is power on fuse 19.

 

tried replacing all of them and nothing. it's extremely hard to get it on reverse when running, but is fine when ignition on, it's weird.

 

Wild guess here...

Could it be the syncro? Maybe it's hard to shift when running because the worn syncro has to stop some of the moving parts unlike when it isn't running?

 

If relay 42 was bad, the engine would not run.........

 

i give up, getting it looked up next week by a tranny specialist.

thanks guys!

 

Here is how the reverse lockout works. When the ignition is off, the solenoid is engaged (cannot go into reverse), when the ign is on, the solenoid is energized and allows the shifter to go into reverse.

The fact that you can go into reverse when the key is on tells me the system is working correctly.

When you can't go into reverse with engine running I can only see one thing that will do this. When PCM senses speed, the reverse lockout will be engaged. You will need a scan tool to see if the PCM sees false speed input. I would check for DTC's also.

 

Just the opposite. From the service manual:

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:

1. The powertrain control module (PCM).
2. 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.

End quote

 

tried one more thing and changed the fluid on the master
cylinder and bamm it worked! fluid was dirty black and thick, changed it like 10 times
by sucking the fluid and replacing it and pumping the pedal a lot of times. seems to have fixed it!! thx guys for the input, hope it doesnt come back

 

The manual for my 98 states the opposite-The inhibit solenoid de-energizes above 3 mph,locking the shifter out of reverse.

(the quote is the same,except my manual has the word "de-energizes" in place of the word "energizes")

I have been over this before,I don't know if later models are different,or what,but my 98 behaves exactly like the 98 shop manual says it should.

And it actually makes sense that GM might have changed it-IF my reverse lockout mechanism fails,I can't back up-at all,which,in certain situations,would really suck.
But if it's as you say,a failure of the mechanism should make reverse accessible at ANY time,so you'd be able to back up,but you'd better be REAL careful when shifting into fifth.
I'm not sure how the later models work,but I know my solenoid de-energizes when the key is off,and when the car is moving over 3 mph,and de-energizing causes reverse to lock out

Not that this has any bearing on the OP's problem,I'm just saying that according to the shop manual,the reverse inhibit solenoid does not behave the same on newer Vettes as it does on the earlier ones..

 

hmm

is it hard to get the shifter over all the way (to the left..) when running or is the difficulty in pushing it forward?

because if it goes to the left OK but you just have difficulty pushing it up into reverse then it's most likely clutch related, not the solenoid.

 

OP has a Z06. The description I quoted is for '01-'04.

 

I realize that the OP has a Z06,and your quote was from a newer manual,for a newer car than mine.
IF someone besides the OP is reading this thread,(now or in the future)with a similar problem,I thought it might be helpful to know they're not all the same.