Shifting Problems

[Sentinel]

For Richard:

Hello,

Tried to post a question on the club forum page. Can't seem to get it to
work. Have a technical question maybe someone out there can answer.

1. I have a 1986 Fiero GT, 2.8 L V6, 4 Speed manual trans

2. Yesterday I took it in for service for a leaky exhaust and a coolant
leak. They replaced the catalytic convertor and pipe to the exhaust manifold
as well as the water pump. When I went in to pick up the car, it was parked
where they had obviously backed it into the parking spot.

3. I drove the car home (about 10 blocks) and went to park it. It would not
go into reverse gear, no how, no way. Every time I tried to put it into
reverse, it went into first gear instead. I pushed it back out of the
parking area manually, and drove it back to the garage. When I got there,
several people tried to get it to go into reverse, but couldn't.  All other
gears worked fine. Shifted ok from first through fourth, etc. They took it
back inside where it still sits this morning before a mechanic looks at it
again.

4. Don't know what's wrong as yet but I expect a disclaimer from the garage.
Need some technical opinions here please. Is this just a coincidence or
what? Could something have been left off during the repair causing the drive
train to shift around to the point where it won't go into reverse gear? One
thing I noticed when they were trying to get to go into reverse at the
garage was that there was a lot of front/back engine movement, maybe 3
inches of play (viewed from the top of the engine) when first gear was
engaged. Engine/trans mount left off underneath, maybe? Help please.



Richard E. Gower

[FieroBUZZ]

Richard:

If the mounts are not broken and the dog bone is connected I don't think it would have that range of movement (engine).

If they had undone/whacked/moved the shift cables and /or linkage it may be just an adjustment.  If you can undo the linkage at the tranny and shift the arm(s) by hand then the tranny s/b okay.  Have someone shift and watch the cables to see if they are somehow moving rather than just letting the inside cable move the arm.

My car (same setup) takes a pretty fair strong-arm wonk to get reverse.

The alternative is that they screwed it up trying to drive it somehow and I'm sure they'll deny that.  
**********************
HEY BOSS: How goes the battle?....good to see you're still here.

[FieroDough]

Water pump and crossover.. hummm.. perhaps they lowered the cradle somewhat... That would involve undoing the select cable. (the one you are having a prob with.) Most likely a cable adjustment prob. will the tranny go into reverse with the engine off?

cheers!
Eric

[fiero1]

I had the same problem last year she was a bitch to put into first @ a whore for reverse.After the linkage at the shifter received some adjustments it was like day @ night  but also was told the cables have streched @ eventually will need replacing.

[ddroger]

So what's the bottom line here?

Was it issues with a bottom engine mount?

Cable broken/detached/stretched?

Nosey newbies like me want to know!

Don R