When I start to push it to the right to get to R it stops right at where 5 and 6 are then you have to basically use all your muscle in your right arm or use 2 hands to push it over which makes it a lil bit easier.

There is no grinding or anything but it is REALLY hard to push over to the point where it goes into R. Pushing into R isn't hard but it is the pushing over to get to R that is hard.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
David

 

I know that sometimes you may think you have the clutch fully depressed, but unless it's to the floor, it may lock you out of gear.

Simple suggestion...adjust your seat forward so that you fully engage the clutch, occasionally, you may need to release the clutch and then engage it again to open the gate. May sound a little crazy, but it just may be your answer.

 

If it is difficult to get all the way over then your reverse lock out solenoid is still engauged. That could be caused by a few things including not having the clutch pedal all the way down as previously mentioned...

 

If your car is under warranty have the dealer check the lockout solenoid connection. My car was doing this and the tech found a loose electrical connection. They cleaned it up and now it shifts perfectly fine.

 

For me it sometimes seems to take a second or 2 until I can shift into reverse after coming to a stop. Maybe trying to force it the solenoid is being jammed and you just need to back off and try again.

 

The clutch is to the floor. I've been driving the car for a lil over a year and this isn't a driver error. I just remembered I let a friend of mine drive the vette (good driver but not a vette expert.) So he starts the car and before I get a chance to tell him he lets the clutch out with it still in R and the e-brake on and it jerks and dies.

What do you think?
-David

 

Since the e-brake was pulled not allowing the car to move he just stalled it by letting the clutch out.

 

Yah but do you think if he let it out fast enough that it would of bent anything because the wheels wouldn't of been able to move? I guess kinda similar to a hard launch?
-David

 

That shouldn't have caused any damage unless he was really on the gas hard.

After reading some of the other posts in this thread I'd suspect the solenoid. I have also had trouble getting into reverse but after a few seconds it will eventually work. Never tried to force it.

If you have this problem all the time it shouldn't be to hard for a mechanic to diagnose.

 

Hmm yah I had it in yest. and today because it wouldn't start but they fixed that and weren't sure about the R and their tranny guy was out. I'll take it back soon to get looked at. Weird how all this popped up all of a sudden.
-David

 

My MN6 had this same issue. It turned out to be the reverse solenoid. Once it was replaced the shift into reverse was easy.

 

no, def not. that had no effect on reverse, clutch or getting into gear. I've had mine for a little over a year and 13K miles, and I have difficulty at times, but nothing like having to use 2 hands. it just doesn't always go the first time I push it over into reverse. sometimes, I have to do it a second time.

you may want to have a tech look at it and mention what achilds had done.

 

I had an 05 z51 that had a similar issue. It had a clutch put in it and never went into gear right after that. I put in a B&M shifter in myself to try to eliminate the problem and as I got into it noticed the issue. It is a bad design how the shifter attaches to the car. The mechanic didn't use locktite on some of the bolts holding the shifter mechanism down when he put the car back together and it started to slide from banging gears pretty hard. You have 4 bolts that hold the shifter to a mechanism that transfers tha vertical shift to the horizontal rod that goes to the gears. That mechanism is held down by 3 bolts that if a little loose will cause that mechanism to slide a little and throw off the shifter and make it hard to get into gear, especially reverse. This may not be your issue but it verywell could be if your gears feel farther away from each other than they used to. It might be worth the hour or so to take off the center console and take a look.

Edit: The more I think about it the jarring that happened from your "friend" letting the clutch out with it in gear could definitely make that mechanism slide. Its worth it to check it out. I'd think there could be some marks where it was originally mounted. If it slid any you would need to move it towards the back of the car. It won't take much movement to throw reverse out of reach and it sounds just like my symptom.

 

I used to rebuild the T5's and T56's on the side and I will tell you putting it into 2nd gear before going into reverse will save the synchro and blocker rings in the future. Press the clutch in, put it in 2nd gear, then with the clutch still depressed, throw it in reverse, it should slide right in. If it is hard to get into reverse at that point, then visit the dealer. All of you should put it into 2nd then reverse.

 

When I left this morning the reverse was working flawlessly. I barely had to give any force to push it over and I would be able to then put it into reverse.

Then as I left the gas station this morning I thought wow thats crazy how it started working again and as I go to test it again it stops working and goes right back to being really hard to push over.

I guess it must be electrical right?

That solenoid is on top of the tranny right? Where exactly?
-David

 

Next time, try what I said in post 14.

 

No difference from 1-R, 2-R, 3-R, 4-R, 5-R, 6-R...

 

Unusual. Here is a link to the exploded view of the T56 and pics of the trans itself. Ive rebuilt about 15 units and never had a problem with reverse other than engaging another gear (2nd) and then it would slip right in.

http://www.highperformancepontiac.co...ion/index.html

My advice before taking it somewhere is just a quick call to D+D Performance and let them know the issue. I spoke with these guys all the time and they know these trans as well or better than GM.

http://www.ddperformance.com/T-56%20Parts.htm


Just trying to lend you a hand.

 

Thanks I'll give 'em a call.