Reverse Gear

[leightongray]

Hi All,

Has anyone had any trouble with getting into reverse gear on the first attempt.
We have to depress the clutch once, attempt to get into reverse (not successful) then
depress the clutch again then we get into reverse OK. Strange?!

The car is 2001 and only has done 10000 miles.

Any ideas?

Cheers
Leighton

[KenL]

Pretty common but not just to the MINI. Every car I've ever had has done this from time to time.

[leightongray]

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL

Pretty common but not just to the MINI. Every car I've ever had has done this from time to time.

Fair point but his seems to be a constant problem, never managed to get into reverse gear on the first try...

[MaTTy_P]

that build of ones and coopers have that problem aparently. Just a little quirk to the car

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by leightongray

Fair point but his seems to be a constant problem, never managed to get into reverse gear on the first try...

If you are worried ask your dealer to have a look. Shouldn't be difficult every time.

[camini]

2 dealers, different story.

First one said they are aware and change to some 'other' gearbox oil
New dealer told me the gear cable's path was modified in order to facilitae getting in reverse and first gear. Apparently they changed it on mine - can't say it made a difference so I think it is bull***t

I know that the double clutch technique works and always do that now and stopped worrying.

[bean006]

Yeah I have this trouble with mine too, and it is an 03 reg. It always happens at the most inappropriate time like when you are doing a 3 point turn! No really it does!!
At least you are not alone. What annoys me is that my old G reg Fiesta used to do it, and now my brand new mini does!!
Looks like the dealers arn't going to help then, nice one dealers!!

[Jen]

Quote: Originally Posted by leightongray

Hi All,

Has anyone had any trouble with getting into reverse gear on the first attempt.
We have to depress the clutch once, attempt to get into reverse (not successful) then
depress the clutch again then we get into reverse OK. Strange?!

The car is 2001 and only has done 10000 miles.

Any ideas?

Cheers
Leighton

I had the same problem until I hit about 10,000 miles. Now it seems to rarely happen. May have just loosened up over time, but for a while I simply could not get this car into reverse at time, despite all the clutch tricks in the world!

[AS Mini]

I have had the same problem on my 03 Cooper. I mentioned to my dealer back in November at my 10,000 mile service and they ended up replacing the transmission. They have done this on other cars also. I haven't had any problems with the new tranny.

Andy

[Ray Newby]

Quote: Originally Posted by AS Mini

I have had the same problem on my 03 Cooper. I mentioned to my dealer back in November at my 10,000 mile service and they ended up replacing the transmission. They have done this on other cars also. I haven't had any problems with the new tranny.

Andy

I have the same problem getting reverse. It seems to be a bit intermittent. Sometimes it
goes first time, other times it takes about three goes. Always seems to go in first time when I reverse out of the garage just after I've started the car up but seems to play up more when I've been driving for a while.

[minisoopercooper]

Same here - my cars 8 weeks old and has done less than 2500 miles - Jan 04 build.

Sometimes seems reluctant to go in ot just wont until you either depress clutch again or go into another forward gear first - like a lot of older cars.

Sometimes if it's just being a bit reluctant it will go in but with a bit of a crunch - which is more worrying?

Does all that sound the same as you guys?

Paul

[bradman]

In the short time I've had my '04 MC I've noticed that its transmisson is like that of any other car I've had in that sometimes it does not slide into reverse on the first try. Some cars are a little better than others in this regard, but it all comes down to (like in all gearboxes) reverse not being a synchronized gear. That being the case, when you are shifting into reverse the two respective gears that are meant to be engaged might have their respective teeth aligned such that they are directly opposite each other. Therefore, they won't slide into mesh with each other. In your other gears you have the synchros, you guessed it, "synchronizing" the act of gear meshing. The synchros basically pre-align, if you will, the respective gears for a clean and quick meshing action at the moment that you are shifting gears. If it balks going into reverse, just let the clutch out a tad, then put the clutch back in, wait an instant, then nick it into reverse. Only if it repeatedly balks at going into reverse gear, or it grinds, then you should take it in for a check up. In many cases the clutch simply needs an adjustment (at least that is so on other cars; I'm not exactly sure about the clutch adjustment, if there is one at all, on the MINI).

[Burgoyne]

One thing that works for me in my car (not a Mini... yet) is to put it in to first gear, and then into reverse. That seems to line it up perfectly every time. If I have the same problem with my Mini (in 2 days!!!!!!) I'll see if that helps. (:

[jasonfields007]

I've had this problem in reverse... it go's half in. some times if you lift your foot slightly off the clutch with it half in, it falls into reverse by itself and u can go.... othertimes you just get a crunch. happens about 50% of the time... ROLL ON GETRAG!

[KenL]

Don't think the GETRAG will solve this wee trait Jason. Every car I've had or maybe even driven has done this.