Well, this anomoly has happened to me in nearly every car I've been in, so it's probably a common thing to occur, and it's this:

Get in the car, normally when it's been standing for a while. Start engine and try to engage reverse to get out of the drive, but despite some considerable effort the stick just will not go beyond half way into reverse. Go back to neutral with clutch still dipped, put it in first gear slot, back into neutral, and then it slips into reverse just fine and away you go. I was just wondering if that inital problem with engaging reverse was a common thing, as it doesn't happen all the time, perhaps every 1 in 3.

And Rob, I don't want any "slipping in" oo-er types of response, but I'm expecting them all the same.

Jason,

Its happened at one time or another with every car (or van) i've driven. I usually find a few revs (not 3000!) helps it slip in nicely..

Oooherr missis ! :eek:

ah! - I omitted to say all this happens whilst at tickover - I've never tried revving the engine a bit. I think 3000RPM would wake the neighbours though, especially with the engine still stone cold.

ah! - I omitted to say all this happens whilst at tickover - I've never tried revving the engine a bit. I think 3000RPM would wake the neighbours though, especially with the engine still stone cold.

Cheaper than an alarm clock....

It's normal.

There's no synchro on reverse, and the gears have "straight cut" teeth. It's hit-and-miss whether or not the gears stop in a position so that they can or can't mesh when slid together by the gear lever.

Putting it into first just "twitches" the layshaft around a little bit, so that the gears are in a position to mesh. You can (usually) get the same effect just by returning to neutral and lifting off the clutch for a moment; this rotates the layshaft a bit.

it has happens to me on both of my skodas however didnt notice it on either of my dagenham dustbins or rover 414

Dipping the clutch a few times often has the desired effect as well...

Ford introduced synchro on reverse on the MT75 box and derivatives (Mondeo/Focus etc.) and it always narks me going back to a box with a non-synchro reverse. Having said that, I haven't had Jason's situation occur in my Octy yet.

I think it because the first motion shaft in the gearbox which is spinning needs time to slow down.

If you dip the clutch, wait a few seconds you can usually get it in.

I never have any doubt that some clutch dipping, or finding first gear, makes reverse smooth as silk. I was just wondering (and now don't need to. ) why it did it in the first place!

:cheers: everyone!

happened to me in nearly every car I've been in, so it's probably a common thing to occur,

Hmmm, I can think of one common factor.

Are you Maureen from Driving School?