My 2004 stock Lancer ES 5-speed taught 2 my 2 kids how to drive stick when fairly new. Needless to say, the gears took a beating, but never seemed to have a problem.

A year ago, my son's '97 Mirage lost reverse and several other gears. That turned out to be a broken clip holding the shift-cable.

However, my problem seems different. I've lost reverse for over a month now with no previous symptoms. Shifting to 1st or 3rd first prior to reverse has no effect. The shifter locks into place in reverse, but as soon as I let the clutch out, the gear shift kicks out of reverse. Forcing it in by holding it causes the gear to grind. All other gears shift just fine.

Right now, I am resorting to parking uphill, or "driving through" to avoid having to use reverse.

Opinions on the most likely cause of this, and fixes, the cheaper the better, would be extremely welcome. - Ross

 

Uuuh... there is no cheap fix to this. The cheapest thing would be to buy a new transmission and install it yourself. Believe it or not, its not all that difficult. Possible father and son job?

 

Any idea what caused this, and why it could not possibly be the Cable-Clip, but only affecting reverse? (That WAS a cheap fix on the '97 Mirage). Reverse was the ONE gear that DIDN'T take a beating teaching my kids to drive. - Ross

 

Well, if the tranny is already screwed from teaching your kids to drive, maybe its time for a new one lol.

 

new tranny...

 

For me I would Buy a new. But you have a lifter and tools to change a transmission then go fix it.

just take your time.

 

OK. After my two attempts to buy a tranny didn't check out with the local Better Business Bureaus, my reverse gear suddenly began shifting normally. This is the second time in two years it has behaved this way. This change coincided with the temperature going above freezing ('50's+) for the first time since I lost reverse. I had the linkage & tranny checked out by a garage, and they found everything tight and within specs. They told me "something is broke in the tranny" - the extent of their diagnosis, and gave me an estimate of $3,800 to fix! Now that it's working, the change I've noticed is that the shifter goes into reverse with more travel to lock it in than when it was grinding. As I said before, NOTHING could get reverse gear to engage previously - not shifting into first before reverse, etc. Theories, anyone? Seems to be a cold weather problem only. Is my tranny fluid viscosity too thick? Does the linkage need lubricated? Is the synchro seizing up, but only when cold?? What's the deal?