[Jnr_Seahorse]

I was just wondering if I am the only person who has difficulty getting their Mini into reverse. Almost every morning I have about 4 or 5 attempts to wrestle the gear stick into reverse. I am also sure the problem is becoming worse.

JS

[dcfkan]

I believe there had been several reports about difficulty in engaging the reverse gear.

Personally, I occassionally have problem engaging it the first time, but no more than other manual cars that I have driven.

I normally put the gear back to neutral, de-clutch and try again with 100% success rate for second attempt so far.

Try performing a search - I am sure someone has written an essay about "double de-clutch" (or some other technical term) somewhere

DK

[somerset]

I have the same problem - It just doesn't like going into reverse. De-clutching used to work, but now seems to take a couple of attempts. Slipping the clutch back gently usually get it in (oo-er). I mentioned it to my Dealers when they were doing the linkage, but they said they couldn't find a problem..

[swil00]

I can't say I've found this fault with my cooper. However on some occasions I have difficulties selecting 1st.

To add to the reverse problem though:

I had a drive in a cooper S earlier this week. One thing I didn't like was the force needed to select reverse It took three attempts to get it into reverse.

Is there anybody else who has driven an S found this or has a better technique ?

[Dom]

Quote:

Originally posted by swil00

I had a drive in a cooper S earlier this week. One thing I didn't like was the force needed to select reverse It took three attempts to get it into reverse.

Is there anybody else who has driven an S found this or has a better technique ?

Have you tried pressing the clutch pedal in

I didn't have the problem on my first gearbox (5 speed cooper), but it's on my second. Nowhere near as bad as my saxo was though!

Dom

[R1]

Try depressing the clutch, into 3rd, let out clutch slightly, depress clutch fully again then into reverse.

You should be able to get reverse easier!

It was posted here somewhere something about 3rd and reverse being closer together as gears.

It may even work by just selecting 3rd and then straight into reverse without letting the clutch slightly out first.

My wifes Fiat Seicento does this as well, but, same as MINI, only sometimes.

[MCS1]

First time I tried getting into reverse in the 'S' I was doing it slowly moving the lever over to the left until I hit the detent, then started pushing...and pushing....and it was almost impossible

However - I have been experimenting, and have discovered that if you sort of take a swinging swipe at the gear lever and batter it across the detent, it goes in quite easily....all seems a bit brutal, though

Goodness knows what was wrong with a push down/lift up detent...

Better that than dropping the clutch at 4,000 rpm thinking you're in first, when in fact you're in reverse

John

[LMB]

Quote:

Originally posted by MCS1
First time I tried getting into reverse in the 'S' I was doing it slowly moving the lever over to the left until I hit the detent, then started pushing...and pushing....and it was almost impossible

I know what you mean. The car doesn't seem to like going into reverse. I hope it loosens up.

[HarryHBMCC]

I've had trouble once or twice but my old Geo Metro had the same sort of thing. As others have stated, I sometimes find it helps to put it into 2nd or 3rd before trying reverse -- for some reason this helps.

Still haven't got my recall notice on the linkage... anyone in Canada get one yet I wonder?

Harry

[bg MINI]

I've had the same problems on all manual transmissions.

Either put it in 1st gear and move forward slightly, then try reverse as normal.

or

Put in neutral, and "forcefully slam" the shift towards the side where 1st gear is, then back to the reverse side. Bring the gearshift easily into reverse.

Before anyone goes nuts with my "forcefully slam" - You aren't trying to break the stick, just wiggle the stick from one side to another. A little forceful slam from side to side is quicker.

[Sealevel]

Quote:

Originally posted by MCS1
...I have been experimenting, and have discovered that if you sort of take a swinging swipe at the gear lever and batter it across the detent, it goes in quite easily....all seems a bit brutal, though...

This difficulty is common to the S, not really considered a fault, and has been mentioned before. John has found the most common solution, just give the stick a little smack through the detent.

[AARX-mini]

Brand new Mini owner. Having a great time, except that over my 3 weeks of ownership it has gotten to the point where I don't want to park nose-in to anything unless I can roll back out!

Is anyone aware of whether the manufacturer has acknowledged any issues with refuse-nik reverse?

I guess I won't be buying that house on the dead-end, one way street.....

[StevePSB]

My old MINI was a bugger for being hard to get into reverse.

When I first bought it the car was fine with reverse, but it got gradually worse in the last few months of ownership (it was 11 months old when I got shot of it).
It got to the point where it crunched 50% of the time I tried to put it into reverse.

Touch wood, but the new MINI is fine so far on this subject.

[EBMCS03]

Its not that bad is it? Ya its a little hard but... ya why is it so hard? other BMWs that have 6 speed gear boxes arnt...

[MarkW19]

The guy at BMW told me (at least on a Cooper) to let the clutch up, then press it down SLOWLY and gently, then go into reverse.

Works every time for me...

[Jen]

Glad to know I am not the only one with a MINI that hates to go backward. I have trouble nearly every day getting it into reverse - even despite trying just about all the tips here. I've had a manual transmission car my whole life and am quite used to the occasional hesitation, or needing to let the clutch in/out again but I feel like a big dork everytime I am trying to go backwards and the gears end up grinding!

Has anyone actually taken their MINI back to the dealer about this? I am just about ready to.

I love Isabelle - IB/W Cooper, racing stripes, 5400 miles -and maybe this will just be a quirk she has......

[theminiv]

Hmmmm, Same problem here,

problems in 1st and reverse, but my gearbox needs changing.

What i do is put the clutch in, then try reverse, then while holding it in the reverse position, raise the clutch slightly, then when it pops in put the clutch back down.

[Tronboy]

A sure fire cure for your reverse problem

Sell the car.

The resale is good, the cars are rubbish.

[gchesaux]

My MC grinds on occasion into reverse too. Someone at Mini just told me that reverse gear does not have a syncro. and sometimes the gears are not lined up giving the grind. So, you should put it in 1st gear first , then into reverse to line the gears up. Double cluching does the same I guess. I'm going to try it now.

[Tronboy]

I don't think very many cars DO have a reverse synchro. there's no real need for it, since the car is generally stationary when reverse is selected. The last car I needed to select first before the lever would slip into reverse was a 1939 Citroen Traction Avant. That car at least had the excuse of antiquity.

A 21st century car should be better than this.