4-speed not going into reverse (Page 1/1)
jaredaltizer MAY 26, 03:51 PM
So, my Fiero has sat for the past year because I didn't have the money or time to get a new engine. Now I finally do. I bought the new engine and gaskets/parts I need to go with it. But before the car was garaged for almost a year, I had it taken to BrakeMax for inspection/service. They apparently had never driven a 4-speed Fiero, because it was very difficult for them to get it into reverse. I repeatedly heard and saw the guys at BrakeMax slamming the shifter over to the left and trying to force it upwards into reverse. After they finished doing maintenance on the car, I drove home. When trying to leave my driveway later, I noticed that I can no longer shift the transmission into reverse. I can feel and hear the shifter going to the reverse slot when I push the shifter all the way to the left, but there is no forwards movement anymore so I am basically without a reverse gear. Anyone had this problem before? Or any speculation as to what it could be?

Thanks
Gall757 MAY 26, 06:05 PM
Is this true with the engine on or off?
jaredaltizer MAY 26, 06:36 PM

quote
Originally posted by Gall757:

Is this true with the engine on or off?



If I remember correctly, both on and off. The engine went south around 10 months ago so it hasn’t ran since. Now that I have a new engine, it will be going in this week and I want to fix the trans problem too.
Patrick MAY 26, 07:02 PM

quote
Originally posted by jaredaltizer:

If I remember correctly...



Well, if you'd like some pertinent suggestions, you'll need to do more than just guess. It makes a difference whether or not you have this issue with and/or without the engine running.


quote
Originally posted by jaredaltizer:

Now that I have a new engine, it will be going in this week and I want to fix the trans problem too.



So, is the transmission on the garage floor or still in the car? No matter, tell us whether you can put the transmission in reverse with the engine not running.
jaredaltizer MAY 26, 07:31 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

So, is the transmission on the garage floor or still in the car? No matter, tell us whether you can put the transmission in reverse with the engine not running.



The trans is still in the car. With the engine off, it will not go into reverse.
Patrick MAY 26, 07:38 PM
Okay, so it's not a clutch disengagement issue then.

To rule out a simple shifter/cable adjustment issue (and/or the shifter itself), I'd disconnect the cables at the transmission end, and then just try putting it into reverse by directly manipulating the levers on the tranny.

[EDIT] Obviously done with the engine not running.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 05-26-2019).]

jaredaltizer MAY 26, 08:02 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

To rule out a simple shifter/cable adjustment issue (and/or the shifter itself), I'd disconnect the cables at the transmission end, and then just try putting it into reverse by directly manipulating the levers on the tranny.

[EDIT] Obviously done with the engine not running.




Thank you for the help. Pardon my ignorance on the subject, but are you able to tell me which levers are used for reverse? I’m not knowledgeable on transmissions really at all and I haven’t even touched my fiero for the past 10 months up until today.
Patrick MAY 26, 08:37 PM

There are probably multiple diagrams posted here somewhere of which levers do what on a 4-spd Muncie, but IMO the simplest way to figure it out is to have someone move the shifter from gear to gear (with the cables still connected), and you watch how the levers are being moved. It's actually pretty simple once you see them in action.
fierofool MAY 26, 10:38 PM
The Neutral Gate is supposed to be a straight line, left to right. When the select cable stretches or gets out of adjustment, it usually affects Reverse, requiring a slight zig-zag of the lever to get it to move over to reverse. Something like -__

Moving the shift lever front to rear in any gears will be the cable that actually places the transmission into Reverse. The other one moves the internals left and right to line up with the 1-2, 3-4, and R gates.

To align the transmission, place the transmission into First. Then look on the side just below the shift lever pivot and you will see a hole in the side of the plate. Horizonzonally, insert a drill bit or pin of proper size into this hole. It will go into a small tube in the shifter frame and prevent the shifter from moving front to back.

Then, look at the cable lever that makes contact with the backup light switch plunger. There is a hole in it. There is another hole just below it in the shifter base.
Likewise, vertically insert something of proper size into it so that the shifter doesn't move side to side.

Once you have the shift lever immobilized, you can go to the rear and loosen the nuts on the ends of the cables. Move each lever slightly with your fingers until you feel them settle into a small notch or detent. You can then tighten that nut and do the same procedure with the next cable. That should align the Neutral Gate all the way across the R, 1-2, 3-4 range.

[This message has been edited by fierofool (edited 05-26-2019).]