Transmission won't go into reverse

**tmh88** · 01-09-2013 06:53 PM

I have an 05 S4 with an aftermarket shifter (not sure what brand, came with it when I bought it) and it won't go into reverse unless I throw the shifter very quickly. It didn't do this when I first bought the car (Nov, 2011), so I know that I didn't purchase it as defective. This problem seems to exist mostly when its cold, however, I have experienced this problem during the summer when it's warm. Gears 1-6 have no problem at all and shift smoothly all the time. Any ideas what could be the problem? Considering it shifts fine in gears 1-6 I'm not convinced it's the clutch.

**SurferD** · 01-09-2013 07:01 PM

Mine's so bad to get into reverse or first in the morning (especially in temps below 35) that I have to put it in 3rd and get the driveline moving then do a quick and very hard shove into reverse. I definitely need to adjust my JHM shifter but it's really ridiculous.

**Scotty@Advanced** · 01-09-2013 07:04 PM

Sounds like the reverse gear or syncro ring.

**SurferD** · 01-09-2013 07:28 PM

It's only when it's cold, otherwise it's easy getting into gear.

**tmh88** · 01-09-2013 07:32 PM

SurferD, it sounds like you have the same problem as me. I've occasionally had it when it's warm, but very rarely, maybe 5-10 times total from April-October and I probably drove 12k miles in that time period so that's a lot of parking and reversing.

**SurferD** · 01-09-2013 07:34 PM

I think it's an inherent problem with all Volkswagen Group manual trannys.
I hear a lot of VW guys have the same issues.

**tmh88** · 01-09-2013 07:37 PM

So, that probably means I'm just out of luck and no chance it's a linkage adjustment issue? Knowing Audi it'll cost at least $3,500 for that repair.

**B6JoeS4** · 01-09-2013 07:43 PM

New fluid is your answer. It is not your reverse syncro. If you wear our your reverse synchro you should not be driving a manual.....

Motul Gear 300 fixes the issue. In the mean time you can park the car in reverse.

**tmh88** · 01-09-2013 07:47 PM

B6JoeS4, did this happen to you? I'm not trying to deny any credibility, just curious how you found this out.

If you wear our your reverse synchro you should not be driving a manual.....

I only know the basics of synchros, so I don't know how they can be worn out. Are you essentially saying you'd have to drop the clutch in reverse a whole bunch of times to strain your transmission? aka, wtf are you doing?

On a side note, how do you like your Terminator? I've always wanted one.

**GF_S4** · 01-09-2013 08:11 PM

1-3-5 gear + tap the gas and put in reverse.

**tmh88** · 01-09-2013 08:22 PM

1-3-5 gear + tap the gas and put in reverse.

Just tried it, no difference. Still had to throw it hard to get into reverse. 1-6 have no problem going into gear.

**B6JoeS4** · 01-09-2013 09:13 PM

Because the reverse syncro really doesn't have to do much of anything. Your 1-6 syncros will ware away long before you go through reverse. Especially 3rd-6th since they aren't as strong as 1st and 2nd. And yes it happened in my S4, and there have been threads like this before and the solution is always fresh fluid. How many miles on your car? The trans fluid should be done every 30k or so. Same with the rear diff.

Cobra is great, completely different car than the S4. Not as comfortable but hey it's 10 year old Ford