Grinding Reverse

**Conflict** · 10-01-2009, 09:31 PM

I have a 97 V6 3.8L 5-speed
I am kinda new to manual but I have a question
Almost every time I shift into reverse it grinds(YES, I am at a complete stop), I cannot figure it out, and the Transmission has a burning smell if it grinds (Note to my Burning smell post, Its the tranny I think)

What could it possibly be? I'm scared to drive it now since I don't want to buy a tranny

**Smittro** · 10-01-2009, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by Conflict

I have a 97 V6 3.8L 5-speed
I am kinda new to manual but I have a question
Almost every time I shift into reverse it grinds(YES, I am at a complete stop), I cannot figure it out, and the Transmission has a burning smell if it grinds (Note to my Burning smell post, Its the tranny I think)

What could it possibly be? I'm scared to drive it now since I don't want to buy a tranny

It's quite possible you're losing reverse.. Does it pop out of reverse when you back up?

**Smittro** · 10-01-2009, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by Smittro

It's quite possible you're losing reverse.. Does it pop out of reverse when you back up?

Also, has the car ever been stuck in bad wheather, beach, mud?

**Smittro** · 10-01-2009, 09:38 PM

The smell could also be comming from your clutch.. A worn out clutch can make it hard to get into gear, aswell as a bad slave cyl.

**Conflict** · 10-01-2009, 09:43 PM

It doesn't pop out of gear when I'm in reverse, not sure about the mud/beach thing but I live in a desert and the car was from a part of LA, no really bad weather around. I guess it might be the clutch...

**Smittro** · 10-01-2009, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by Conflict

It doesn't pop out of gear when I'm in reverse, not sure about the mud/beach thing but I live in a desert and the car was from a part of LA, no really bad weather around. I guess it might be the clutch...

Okay then proly not the trany then.. If your mileage is getting up there it probably is the clutch..Since there's no way to tell how the last person drove it..

**Conflict** · 10-01-2009, 09:56 PM

it was a women, but its only in reverse..., is the grinding bad for the tranny or is it bad for the clutch?

**nillam1** · 10-01-2009, 10:40 PM

This used to happen to me in an older Camaro I used to have. Try shifting to first before reverse! This worked for me.

**Smittro** · 10-02-2009, 02:47 AM

Originally Posted by Conflict

it was a women, but its only in reverse..., is the grinding bad for the tranny or is it bad for the clutch?

Well it's not the best thing for the tranny that's for sure. I'd have it serviced soon..

**bryceslu** · 10-02-2009, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by nillam1

This used to happen to me in an older Camaro I used to have. Try shifting to first before reverse! This worked for me.

Not sure about 1st to R but 2nd to R works like a charm.

**nillam1** · 10-02-2009, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by bryceslu

Not sure about 1st to R but 2nd to R works like a charm.

Our newer 98-02 LS1's have a tranny that can be shifted to reverse, even while still going forward slowly or just having pressed the clutch in after moving forward. That is why we get no grinding when shifting to reverse. Older tranny's did not have that.

Originally Posted by Smittro

Well it's not the best thing for the tranny that's for sure. I'd have it serviced soon..

You can get it serviced like SMITTRO suggests but if shifting to 2nd before shifting to reverse get's rid of the problem, then just get in the habit of doing that. Nothing wrong with your tranny.