shifting question please help dont want to hurt her

[bigd2114]

i have a question this isnt my first manual car its my third but i noticed when i am going in reverse and i accelerate then but it in nuetral and then back into reverse to accelerate a little more in revers there is a grinding sound back into reverse the second time. im worried that im doing something wrong thank you

[brentil]

Is the sound when you put it in gear or when you accelerate?

[bigd2114]

Originally Posted by brentil

Is the sound when you put it in gear or when you accelerate?

it seems as if when im putting the gear in like almost if i didnt depress the clutch enough but i did thats why i wasnt sure

[Stu's Sky]

I have noticed on mine that if you go back into reverse, it will grind unless you are at a complete stop. My driveway is downhill and if I backout of it in "N" and then want to go into "R" when I am still rolling, it will grind.

Don't know if that is supposed to do that or not?

[07 Chili Pepper]

Don't know what's inside of our transmissions but I'll bet that reverse is not syncronized. Most are not.

[hawkeye]

It sounds like the reverse gear is not sychronised. The solution may be to simply depress the clutch and leave it in reverse while coasting backwards and let the clutch out when you want to accelerate.

[bigd2114]

but then ur riding the clutch right isnt that bad for the clutch

[Freakazoid]

Originally Posted by bigd2114

but then ur riding the clutch right isnt that bad for the clutch

if you do it on a regular basis, but riding the clutch a little bit to go in reverse isn't going to do a lot of damage. (think parallel parking).

[V8 SKY]

Don't shift out of reverse until you are done using reverse - it is a wasted motion to pull the car out of gear when you know you are still going to need it right away. If you need you stop or slow, depress the clutch all the way (yes, "ride" it). I assume you are only backing out of the driveway, not rolling along at highway speeds in reverse. The reverse gear is not synchronized (I've never had a car that was), so it will grind if you take it out of gear, then try to put it back while rolling.

I have driven manuals for 21 years, and always seem to have great luck with clutch life - never had one fail. Even my 1992 Saturn SC had the original clutch when I passed it on to my niece at 130,000 miles in 2004.

Anyway, quit worrying about going backwards, and move that car forward along some great winding roads.

[dmbdlatc]

Originally Posted by GByrnes

The reverse gear is not synchronized (I've never had a car that was), so it will grind if you take it out of gear, then try to put it back while rolling.

I never though about that, good point. But, how sure are you about it for the SKY? Not that it really matters that much.

[V8 SKY]

I am not SURE that reverse is not synchronized, but at this price point, and with your description of the situation, I would say it is not.

[seal9]

Why would they synchroniz the reverse gear it just for short backup at low speed, as you said not driving down the Hwy....Seal9

[Lil GTO]

Originally Posted by bigd2114

but then ur riding the clutch right isnt that bad for the clutch

Correct me if I am wrong here - but I thought "riding the clutch" means to have the pedal partially depressed under load. I believe the suggestion was to fully depress the clutch allowing the car to coast and then without having moved the shifter out of reverse - apply additional reverse as needed. It seems to me that having the clutch fully depressed - and the transmision fully disengaged - cannot put any more wear on the clutch than having the tranny shifted into neutral with the cluthc engaged, can it?

[V8 SKY]

You are correct, the way I have always seen it. In rereading my post, I did use the term incorrectly. At least I did put "ride" in quotes when I used the term.

However, when backing up, there is a bit of riding that happens, as I never really reach a point (or a speed) in the driveway when the clutch isn't at least partially depressed. When I do get to speed in reverse, I tend to then completely depress the clutch, and coast until I am where I want to be.

I certainly NEVER truly ride the clutch going forward. The only time that pedal moves slowly with me is in first gear from a dead stop. A properly used clutch can last a long time. As I said, the clutch on my 1992 SC lasted the whole time I owned it, for 130,000 miles, mostly city driving.

I can't wait to get back to driving a manual transmission regularly. I moved in to a 2004 VUE with a 6-Cyl and Automatic when I let the SC go, and my left foot still finds the floor sometimes when I turn the key.