Hello Guest

Samurai is difficult to shift into reverse

  • 10 Replies
  • 6245 Views

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

*

Offline jschroetter

  • 3
  • 0
  • Gender: Male
Samurai is difficult to shift into reverse
« on: January 12, 2012, 06:21:43 PM »
Hello - New to the forum and a new samurai owner.  >:D

Issue i am having is difficulty with my Sam shifting into reverse.  Occasionally it will go into reverse and sometimes it just wont.  Guy i bought it from claimed it to be a common problem however i have not been able to find anything on the forum.

I am about to pull the transmission and curious what i should be looking for.

One strange thing is in neutral, their seems to be power being applied to the driveshaft, not enough to move the car but you can hear things spinning when it is just sitting.  stops when the clutch is applied. 

any help is appreciated

thanks - jamie
1988.5 Suzuki Samurai
3" Lift
29" BF Goodrich Mud Terrains
A survivor

*

Offline ebattleon

  • 67
  • 1
  • Gender: Male
Re: Samurai is difficult to shift into reverse
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2012, 07:01:17 PM »
The issue is either you need a new shifter seat, or a new shifter locator bolt or both.
Common Sense Absent

*

Offline 02CalTaco

  • 196
  • 4
  • Gender: Male
Re: Samurai is difficult to shift into reverse
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2012, 08:08:57 PM »
I wonder if the spinning sound your hearing is like what I have, I would call mine a whirring sound with it in neutral, it goes away when the pedal is pressed. Hopefully someone will chime in on this.

*

Offline jschroetter

  • 3
  • 0
  • Gender: Male
Re: Samurai is difficult to shift into reverse
« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2012, 09:30:26 PM »
Would this be worth a shot as a fix then:
http://www.jeep4x4center.com/shifter-fix-kit-spi-shf001.html


You described the sound well.  Mine does the same...

Thanks!
1988.5 Suzuki Samurai
3" Lift
29" BF Goodrich Mud Terrains
A survivor

*

Offline Capt

  • 738
  • 28
  • Gender: Male
  • LIFT IT ! .......Fat Chicks CAN'T JUMP !!
Re: Samurai is difficult to shift into reverse
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2012, 09:35:23 AM »
The whirling sound is the "Cluster Gear" inside the transmission, It spins even in neutral.
As long as it doesn't sound like a Garbage disposal or Rock Crushing & Screening Plant,
it should be OK. I would at least change the gear oil to see if it runs quieter, and also see what the old oil
looks like or if it has stuff in it.

CAPT

*

Offline doughboy0379

  • 290
  • 9
  • Gender: Male
  • Blinker fluid is free so use it........
Re: Samurai is difficult to shift into reverse
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2012, 10:54:15 AM »
Does it go into all other gears ok though could need a small adjustment to the clutch cable, also be sure that you are not going from 5th gear to reverse (sounds like a no brainer but I have seen people new to shifting do it without meaning to) I do agree with ebattleon though look at the shifter bolt you can get to that from inside the cab and don't need to pull the whole tranny out
86 Samurai, SPOA, 3" HD leaf springs, 31/10.5/15 Big-O XT Tires, K&N Air Filter, Doug Thorey Header, more coming when I find the funds :)

*

Offline jschroetter

  • 3
  • 0
  • Gender: Male
Re: Samurai is difficult to shift into reverse
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2012, 12:20:32 PM »
Thank you for the input.  I will give adjusting the clutch a whirl and also check on the bolt.  I have a doner tranmission for parts so I can try the bolt from it.

As for the transmission noise.  I really could not hear mine until i had the shift stick pulled out trying to diagnose the no reverse shifting issue. 

Thanks!
1988.5 Suzuki Samurai
3" Lift
29" BF Goodrich Mud Terrains
A survivor

*

Offline ebattleon

  • 67
  • 1
  • Gender: Male
Re: Samurai is difficult to shift into reverse
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2012, 01:42:04 PM »
Your shifter seat  or locator pin or both need to be replaced..both easy fixes.

Neutral is applied from the T.case allows the transmission to free spin with no power to the wheels. When you press the clutch pedal down you you disengage the clutch and no power can go form the engine to the transmission hence no sound. It just how its built no issues there.
Common Sense Absent

*

Online fordem

  • 4314
  • 167
  • Gender: Male
Re: Samurai is difficult to shift into reverse
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2012, 07:08:11 PM »
Your shifter seat  or locator pin or both need to be replaced..both easy fixes.

Neutral is applied from the T.case allows the transmission to free spin with no power to the wheels. When you press the clutch pedal down you you disengage the clutch and no power can go form the engine to the transmission hence no sound. It just how its built no issues there.

Not if you're selecting neutral at the transmission - that "is applied" at the transmission - sounds like you might be getting your neutrals confused.
'98 SQ420 Grand Vitara
'05 JB420 Grand Vitara
'16 APK416 Vitara
'21 A6G415 Jimny

*

Offline ebattleon

  • 67
  • 1
  • Gender: Male
Re: Samurai is difficult to shift into reverse
« Reply #9 on: January 19, 2012, 08:01:56 AM »
Woops :o Fordem you are right...if you guys are noting the change in sound from cluth engaged to dis-engaged. The sound change is due absence of transmission drag(or loading) and increase in idle engine speed as a result. Still normal and not an issue.
« Last Edit: January 20, 2012, 08:56:51 PM by ebattleon »
Common Sense Absent

*

Offline Boxcar

  • 936
  • 34
  • Gender: Male
Re: Samurai is difficult to shift into reverse
« Reply #10 on: January 19, 2012, 10:44:59 AM »
OR ...It's a bad throw out bearing...Boxcar....
God Bless
88.5 Samurai Heavily modified.