I've got a 1990 Honda Civic DX Hatchback (nicknamed The Shoe) and for some reason i can't get the sumbitch into reverse. At first I thought it was the clutch, but it won't even slide in when the car's off. I've been able to slide it into all other gears from inside and underneath The Shoe but reverse is just nothing. When I try to engage it when the engine is running it just grinds like a **** and throws itself back into neutral. Anyone got any ideas?

 

bad tranny?

 

could be, but i'm not sure, the night before it worked fine, went to class this morning, tried backin it up into the stall and it wouldn't go...hadda push it back in there...blocked traffic for about 3 minutes...which sucked...but yeah, i don't have enough money to go and buy this 1997 Civic i was looking at...so i need ideas for now

 

Why don't you check at where the shift linkage attaches to the tranny. Check it to be in spec. All I could think of right now.

 

everything looked normal under there, so i ended up coming to you guys :P if there are any more ideas from anyone, that would be great

 

possibley a reverse linkage roll pin may have either backed out or snapped. possible broken reverse selector.

 

ok, just so it's now common knowledge: the car shifts (running or not) into all 5 forward gears just fine. when i attempt to shift into reverse, instead of hearing a 'click', it comes out more of a 'THUD' and the rod between the shifter and the transmission doesn't move fully forward (inside tran) as it would in 4th and 2nd. could this car just be in really massive need of a transmission overhaul?