Hey all, I need some help. Car is a 1990, stock clutch that is perfectly fine and stock 5mt.

Started out with the stuck in reverse problem. car wouldn't go into any gear except 1 and 2, neutral was reverse.

Before I read about how easy the fix was, I took apart the shifter assembly (just the **** and boots). I pulled the shifter out and the bushing was broken. I tried light prying to get the gears back in, but got nothing.

Then I found the thread in the garage by lance. took the reverse light bolt out, found the little gap toward the front of the hole, and tried prying. It won't really budge. I'm using a short, fat screw driver (3''), but I'm still having clearance issues between the screw driver going into the gap and the tunnel of the tranny. When i try prying, I can't get a full pull-back of the screw driver because the handle is stopped by the tunnel wall.

But regardless.. I know it shouldn't be that hard... I tried with and without the clutch being depressed.

Any suggestions? Need help fast!

Kevin

 

I did the screwdriver fix a couple years ago and I do recall it taking more force than I expected. Take a couple different length flatheads out and make sure you're getting the most leverage with the space you have to work with. It took me a couple minutes from start to finish, not a bad fix by any means.

Goodluck with it!

 

P.S. You don't need to depress the clutch to pop it back in.

 

Tried with TONS of force, still nothing. I'm taking the turrent cover off and going to try looking inside.

Kev

 

I cut a 2 1/4 " diameter hole in the tunnel of a friend's car after doing the fix twice with a lot of force in a bad position. Covered the hole with gorilla tape so I could do it again quickly for him. Hasn't re-occured for two years. Cheap insurance

 

just for reference and to keep up with this problem...

Stuck in reverse problem turns into disaster - MX-5 Miata Forum

Kev

 

It happened to me too. I had to move my shifter around a little bit before I could get the shift rod to move.

 

any more details of what you did Rigamus? I did that all day basically.

Kev

 

Not really, maybe I just got lucky. I do remember having to mess with the shifter a little. After that it popped out of reverse pretty easy with a stubby Craftsman screwdriver. I think I had to partially engage it in a gear (I can't remember which one) or at least get it in the notch somewhat before reverse would release.

 

and it was stuck in 5th before you did this lucky fix?

 

I don't believe so. I think it was in reverse and the shifter was in the notch for first and second.

 

yep, that's the common problem.

 

GL getting it fixed - I had a 90 that did this to me a couple times. Since no one has been able to conclusively say what causes it, it was sort of nerve racking. I only had that car about a year, if I had kept it I would have gotten a replacement 91+ transmission somewhere. they aren't usually any more than $100, and miata trannies don't develop too many issues with synchros and the like. so almost any replacement will be fine.

It's easy to forget there aren't too many "nightmare" issues with these cars. At least when you are stuck in reverse or have a trashed crank or main thrust bearing, its easy to forget.

 

Isn't this usually a bad slave issue? Pull back the boot on the slave and see if it's leaking any brake fluid.

 

**** I told him as well