[jfearh]

Hey Folks,

I have a 2018 Camaro LS (6 Speed Manual). This is my first manual car and I have put 500 miles in to it. I know that putting the shifter in to reverse requires a little bit of effort.I have been noticing 1 out of 10 times that when i am at full stop and if i try to put my car in to reverse, it will not go past the gate. I usually put it back in to neutral and on second or third attempt it will go in without any issues.

Another thing I have noticed is that very rarely when i put the shifter in to reverse, it will only be partially engaged and will not fully go in to reverse. Even though the reverse light comes on but i often have to resort to put it back in neutral and then put it in reverse again. Same thing as happened to me once on first gear where it was partially engaged but all of this is not happening all the time.

I have an appointment with a ceramic coating guy today and he only works on one car per 2 - 3 days and i would really hate to cancel it but if GM decides to give me a new car then all that money will go to waste as i know that GM has done that to a few folks. If this even is a problem? Can you please advise what to do in this case? I am not sure if this is just breaking in or standard feature of a 6 speed manual transmission? The car drives fine otherwise. Any ideas? I need to know where to draw the line between an actual problem or me overthinking.

[Airfuel]

New car?

[jfearh]

Originally Posted by Airfuel

New car?

yep only has 500 miles in it.

[Airfuel]

No, you won't get a new car. If the tranny is defective, you will get a new tranny.

Sometimes when reverse becomes hard to get in to, go to neutral, release the clutch then in again. This will move the gear set a bit and make reverse easier to engage.

Don't force anything!

[jfearh]

Originally Posted by Airfuel

No, you won't get a new car. If the tranny is defective, you will get a new tranny.

Sometimes when reverse becomes hard to get in to, go to neutral, release the clutch then in again. This will move the gear set a bit and make reverse easier to engage.

Don't force anything!

Oh ok, is that something that shouldn't be happening though? As in, how long should i keep driving before taking this to the dealer.

[Mountain]

Putting the shifter into reverse should be no additional effort than putting it in any other gear. The Tremecs in these cars have synchronized reverse gears, unlike some transmissions of the past.

Having previous experience, as a job, helping people figure out technical issues with vehicles in the field, many times having to help via electronic writings, I will leave it simply:

You are either doing something wrong/odd in operation or there is an issue with the transmission.

The issues, if the transmission, could be reverse lock-out solenoid, reverse syncho or reverse shift fork related.

Clutch pedal pushed all the way down?
Car fully stopped before (not as) you shift into reverse?
Fluid, well-effort shifting motion?

[jfearh]

Originally Posted by Mountain

Clutch pedal pushed all the way down?
Car fully stopped before (not as) you shift into reverse?
Fluid, well-effort shifting motion?

correct

[Mountain]

Originally Posted by jfearh

correct

How is it shifting in reverse (and all other gears) with the engine off/car off, clutch pushed in/down?

[ctrlz]

Originally Posted by jfearh

Another thing I have noticed is that very rarely when i put the shifter in to reverse, it will only be partially engaged and will not fully go into reverse. Even though the reverse light comes on but i often have to resort to put it back in neutral and then put it in reverse again. Same thing as happened to me once on first gear where it was partially engaged but all of this is not happening all the time.

This sounds like a shift linkage problem.
The service manual references two possible causes: Linkage binding and need for adjustment.
From what I can see, the linkage arm is a fixed length. So I really don't see the "adjustability" like on some systems where there is a bit of threaded rod and you can alter the length.
So that leaves binding, but I would add that even a slightly bent rod will have the wrong length and could cause stubbornness.

This may be sacrilege, but over the years I have developed the habit of throwing the transmission all the way into another gear (going past neutral) if one of the positions is pesky. So if 1st is a PITA, I'll go neutral to 2nd and then into 1st. Has not been a problem with my Camaro, but something I have had to do with various friend's and girlfriend's cars over the years, and is now reflex.

[jfearh]

OK Guys, i have uploaded the video of me shifting in to reverse while i had the clutch pressed the whole time. I hope and i really hope this is it. Maybe i am not shifting with enough torque or the correct form. I noticed that when I grip the shifter kind of tight, i get a little hesitation on shifting in to reverse but when i put my hands straight on the right side if the knob and then shift and i see no issues (so far at least). I can shift in to other gears with having my normal grip on the shift knob but only when i have to shift in to reverse it gives me the hesitation, the videos shows it exactly what i am talking about. Please advise!

https://youtu.be/v5ZLHzUHWeg

[jfearh]

Originally Posted by jfearh

OK Guys, i have uploaded the video of me shifting in to reverse while i had the clutch pressed the whole time. I hope and i really hope this is it. Maybe i am not shifting with enough torque or the correct form. I noticed that when I grip the shifter kind of tight, i get a little hesitation on shifting in to reverse but when i put my hands straight on the right side if the knob and then shift and i see no issues (so far at least). I can shift in to other gears with having my normal grip on the shift knob but only when i have to shift in to reverse it gives me the hesitation, the videos shows it exactly what i am talking about. Please advise!

https://youtu.be/v5ZLHzUHWeg

nevermind, happened again even with correct grip but this time on a slight uphill parking.

[Walter_]

This is the way that transmission works. Shift to reverse as normal, if it does not go into gear lift the clutch a small amount while pushing forward. It will slip right in. What is happening is the gear teeth on both gears are lined up. Think of like pushing your fingers tip together. They will not go into gear. Now move one hand or the other and they fall right in. I do not think there is a synchronizer for reverse, but it will not help this, as there is no speed difference between the gears. Synchronizers change gear speed, no speed they do nothing.

[DrNo]

I have a manual 2SS with about the same number of miles. I have no trouble putting the car in reverse.

[trohde78]

There is also a lockout solenoid on reverse that prevents you from accidentally shifting into reverse (instead of 5th) when the car is moving. I've had that keep me out of reverse a few times when I think I'm at a full stop, but might still be rolling a bit.