2002 transmission replacement
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
How many miles on the drivetrain?
Who is doing the replacement/work?
Are you sure that the SHIFTER is not causing the issue?
Does the clutch and the forward gears work properly?
You can replace the reverse gears and components without removing the entire transmission!
Recommend having a Corvette Mechanic type shop provide you a diagnostic and repair estimate.
BC
Who is doing the replacement/work?
Are you sure that the SHIFTER is not causing the issue?
Does the clutch and the forward gears work properly?
You can replace the reverse gears and components without removing the entire transmission!
Recommend having a Corvette Mechanic type shop provide you a diagnostic and repair estimate.
BC
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,524
Likes: 4,369
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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I was having trouble with reverse and IT WAS the shifter!
Is you shifter stock or aftermarket?
Is you shifter stock or aftermarket?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 414
From: New Jersey
You have to clarify what you mean by not going into reverse by describing what's happening when you try to go into reverse. It could be the reverse gear solenoid, easy fix or the transmission itself, big fix
Pro
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 529
Likes: 197
From: Columbus, MS
Sounds like you're about to throw the baby out with the bath water. As others have said, there's some diagnosis work to be done before condemning the whole transmission.
Check the reverse lockout solenoid. It's a plug toward the top of the transmission, near the shifter. If your "difficult to get into reverse" condition involves a lot of lateral force to push it over to the right to get into R, it's likely an issue with the lockout. Disconnect the lockout solenoid wire and see if that changes anything.
If it's difficult to push forward up into the reverse gear it may be an issue with the shifter, not the transmission.
It IS entirely likely that you have an internal failure with the transmission as well. Drain the fluid and look for any metallic bits or glitter that could indicate damage. Replace the fluid with fresh ATF. If that doesn't fix the issue, then I'd start thinking it's time to pull the transmission out.
Look into repairing/rebuilding your existing transmission. There are several very reputable shops that specialize in the T56. It is likely that it will be cheaper to send your existing unit off for repair vs buying a whole new/rebuilt transmission.
Check the reverse lockout solenoid. It's a plug toward the top of the transmission, near the shifter. If your "difficult to get into reverse" condition involves a lot of lateral force to push it over to the right to get into R, it's likely an issue with the lockout. Disconnect the lockout solenoid wire and see if that changes anything.
If it's difficult to push forward up into the reverse gear it may be an issue with the shifter, not the transmission.
It IS entirely likely that you have an internal failure with the transmission as well. Drain the fluid and look for any metallic bits or glitter that could indicate damage. Replace the fluid with fresh ATF. If that doesn't fix the issue, then I'd start thinking it's time to pull the transmission out.
Look into repairing/rebuilding your existing transmission. There are several very reputable shops that specialize in the T56. It is likely that it will be cheaper to send your existing unit off for repair vs buying a whole new/rebuilt transmission.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,339
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
Can you live with "it is really hard to get into reverse"? Since owning my '04 M6 for 7 years, I always had some issue with reverse. This continued after installing a MGW shift'r. My work-around is to put the trans in neutral and wiggle the heck of it and then it goes in without issues.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 529
Likes: 197
From: Columbus, MS
Can you live with "it is really hard to get into reverse"? Since owning my '04 M6 for 7 years, I always had some issue with reverse. This continued after installing a MGW shift'r. My work-around is to put the trans in neutral and wiggle the heck of it and then it goes in without issues.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,524
Likes: 4,369
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Can you live with "it is really hard to get into reverse"? Since owning my '04 M6 for 7 years, I always had some issue with reverse. This continued after installing a MGW shift'r. My work-around is to put the trans in neutral and wiggle the heck of it and then it goes in without issues.
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 515
Likes: 134
I have had to replace two transmissions in 190,000 miles.
The first time it wouldn't go into reverse, forward gears fine. I read on this forum that it could be a pad on the shift fork, but the shop couldn't or wouldn't find this (no Corvette specialty or transmission shops near my small town), so I ended up with a rebuilt.
A couple years later, on a road trip, it was shifting with difficulty in forward gears, then I discovered no reverse when turning around. It was dripping oil and obviously overheated. Came to find out it was hot enough that the plastic breather fitting on top of the transmission was melted. This was at a small town in Nevada, so I ended up with having to take a rental car home, and returning when they got another rebuilt transmission installed.
The first time it wouldn't go into reverse, forward gears fine. I read on this forum that it could be a pad on the shift fork, but the shop couldn't or wouldn't find this (no Corvette specialty or transmission shops near my small town), so I ended up with a rebuilt.
A couple years later, on a road trip, it was shifting with difficulty in forward gears, then I discovered no reverse when turning around. It was dripping oil and obviously overheated. Came to find out it was hot enough that the plastic breather fitting on top of the transmission was melted. This was at a small town in Nevada, so I ended up with having to take a rental car home, and returning when they got another rebuilt transmission installed.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 529
Likes: 197
From: Columbus, MS
Well, Everybody wants to troubleshoot my transmission and not really answer my question so I'll go along with this. The seller of the car said there was nothing wrong with the car. But I felt the shifting wasn't quite right. So I got out of him that yes indeed the transmission had been worked on. Where he really messed up was giving me the number to the transmission shop. So I called them. I was told that the parts needed to fix it was not available so they did a get-by fix so he could sell the car. I plan on taking the car to a transmission shop in a town not too far away to have them take a look at it. Until then I was preparing for the worse case which is replacing the transmission. And if that is the case my question still stands. I have unfinished business with the seller.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 529
Likes: 197
From: Columbus, MS
As far as the rear main-- I'd recommend changing that only IF you're taking the clutch and flywheel off, or if you suspect a leak. If you already have access to it via removing the flywheel it's a "why not" kind of deal. If it's not leaking and you're not replacing the clutch it might not be worth removing the clutch and flywheel to get at it. Then again, Mr Murphy might show up right after you put everything back together, so it's really your call
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,493
Likes: 1,178
From: Dyer, IN
How many miles on the drivetrain?
Who is doing the replacement/work?
Are you sure that the SHIFTER is not causing the issue?
Does the clutch and the forward gears work properly?
You can replace the reverse gears and components without removing the entire transmission!
Recommend having a Corvette Mechanic type shop provide you a diagnostic and repair estimate.
BC
Who is doing the replacement/work?
Are you sure that the SHIFTER is not causing the issue?
Does the clutch and the forward gears work properly?
You can replace the reverse gears and components without removing the entire transmission!
Recommend having a Corvette Mechanic type shop provide you a diagnostic and repair estimate.
BC
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,771
Likes: 940
From: Orlando Florida
The transmission in my 2002 corvette is having a problem. It is really hard to get into reverse. I'm am thinking I will replace it and was wondering what else should be done at this time. Clutch, slave and master and bleeder. And what do you wish you had done while this is being done. Also what clutch kit did you use? Should the main seal be replaced?
Pro
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 529
Likes: 197
From: Columbus, MS
I am having a corvette transmission shop put in a used transmission that has a 3 yr warranty. Haven't yet decided on what clutch kit with flywheel but looking at the Scoggin Dickey LS7 clutch package. I will just have to trust the shop to inspect the tt and the rear main seal. What else should I do or not do? And as always any input will be appreciated.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 529
Likes: 197
From: Columbus, MS
I (and several others who replied to this thread) "continually beat a dead horse" by trying to help you diagnose an issue with your car? That's a good one. You strike me as a self-absorbed ***** who is too good and too smart to listen to anyone else because you're smarter than everyone and they need to know how much smarter you are. So now you're acting ridiculously entitled that people should provide you advice on what additional parts to load into the parts cannon to fire at your car, despite two decades of thread history on this site and elsewhere detailing exactly the kind of questions you're demanding personalized answers to.
Get over yourself. I won't be surprised to see you back in short order blaming the shop for doing shoddy work when your new-to-you used transmission also has issues, or it doesn't fix the original issue you had because you were too good and too smart to bother with a proper diagnosis.
Get over yourself. I won't be surprised to see you back in short order blaming the shop for doing shoddy work when your new-to-you used transmission also has issues, or it doesn't fix the original issue you had because you were too good and too smart to bother with a proper diagnosis.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,524
Likes: 4,369
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner- Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I am having a corvette transmission shop put in a used transmission that has a 3 yr warranty. Haven't yet decided on what clutch kit with flywheel but looking at the Scoggin Dickey LS7 clutch package. I will just have to trust the shop to inspect the tt and the rear main seal. What else should I do or not do? And as always any input will be appreciated.
You may notice the clutch pedal closer to the floor for a while, but it will make its way up to the normal position in a few hundred miles or so. Some suggest to go 500 miles before you go hard, but I couldn’t wait that long.
I had my shop install a Katech remote bleeder wrapped with a DEI heat sleeve. I also had them install a new master cylinder along with the new slave. I just didn’t want any chance of crud left anywhere in the hydraulic system, and stock masters are not that expense. That’s just me…
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
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