Can't reverse my '89 Wrangler

[bcrowe]

I recently bought an 89 YJ and have been working to get it running again. It sat in a barn for the last 6 years and needed some work! This coming weekend I'm doing the TFI upgrade on it to try and smooth out the rough idling/ stalling issues. (Maybe I'll do the MC2100 swap as well...)
One of my biggest issues though is reverse. I CAN go in reverse, but only if I grab, pull, and hold the gearshift. If I get the RPMs over 1k, it pops out of gear. If I don't yank and hold it, it pops out of gear. Any ideas or suggestions?

Ben

 

[lah2420]

I can't answer if it's the Peugeot transmission, but if it's the AX15 it could be several things. A bent shift rail, one of the detente balls between rails, reverse shift arm, reverse shift shoe(this moves the reverse gear in and out). I have also seen it as being something as simple as the shifter being stopped from going all the way into reverse by the rubber shift boot. Another thing could be the transmission mount is broken and the shifter is hitting the back of the hole it comes through. You'll have to eliminate things one at a time.

 

[Sparky-Watts]

Ok....two posts in succession that remind me of my old '76 Datsun....that's scary! In that old beasty, I had the same problem, turned out to be bent shift fork, I believe. Only on that one, sometimes it would stick in gear, and I'd literally have to stand in the seat and kick it out of reverse.

EDIT: On further thought, it may have been something else, and kicking it out of gear may be what bent the forks!!!! Hmmmm.......

 

[lah2420]

Ok....two posts in succession that remind me of my old '76 Datsun....that's scary!

Careful there Sparky. Some of these young-uns on the forum have never even seen or heard of a Datsun. Talk about making me go back to my younger years.....Now THAT'S scary to me.

 

[Craig]

Does it have a body lift? Could be that someone did a body lift and never bothered to either bend the shifter or move the shift boot back.

 

[LVRockCrawler]

always check clearances first i.e. shifter boot, crud, etc...(simple) b/4 tearing it down (difficult) and if it sat that long could be crud got in the linkage also....clean clean clean first and hopefully it'll fix itself (may be wishful thinking but what the heck... the glass is half full right!)

 

[pdparker]

I'm having the same problem with the reverse. I have the Puegeot 5-Speed transmission. I have been looking around the internet for solutions. I have found alot of places indicating that this is a common problem with that transmission, but no solutions. My 88 YJ has a lift kit installed years ago. The problem only started recently. I have yet to tear it down to see what is going on. When I do I will post back my findings.:?

 

[bcrowe]

Thanks for the posts guys.
It does not have a body lift, but I have not had much of a chance to get under and look for broken transmission mounts. I really hope it's just hitting the back of the hole there! I'll let you know what I find out.

 

[yjdave]

I'm having the same problem with the reverse. I have the Puegeot 5-Speed transmission. I have been looking around the internet for solutions. I have found alot of places indicating that this is a common problem with that transmission, but no solutions. My 88 YJ has a lift kit installed years ago. The problem only started recently. I have yet to tear it down to see what is going on. When I do I will post back my findings.:?

That's usually the first problem..then BANG..start lossing gears.

 

[Sparky-Watts]

Nice looking YJ, bcrowe!!

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Had the same problem with my old '88 Peugeot BA10/5 transmission, but I could hold mine in reverse and it'd be fine. Having a 350 in front of it didn't help matters :twisted:

You could have either the Peugeot or the AX15 transmission, both were available behind the 4.2L six cyl. as they switched to the AX15 mid-year '89. The Peugeot transmission is two side case halves joined with a seam running front to back. The AX15 is a front and rear case half seperated by a 1" intermediate plate that runs side to side.

 

[pdparker]

I solved my problem. The stick was not engaging all the way into reverse. When I pulled the boot off the shifter, there was a wiring harness and a hose that was in the way. Also I noticed when I put the boot back on, I had to redrill the holes to mount it to allow for proper clearance to the reverse gear. Take a look at the boot on your 89. It might just have the same issue.

 

[Sparky-Watts]

I solved my problem. The stick was not engaging all the way into reverse. When I pulled the boot off the shifter, there was a wiring harness and a hose that was in the way. Also I noticed when I put the boot back on, I had to redrill the holes to mount it to allow for proper clearance to the reverse gear. Take a look at the boot on your 89. It might just have the same issue.

Cool. I love a happy ending!!8)