Does anyone know why I'm having a hard time shifting into reverse in the morning when the engine is cold? As the vehicle warms up the shifting gets much easier. Could it be the syncro gear for the reverse? I changed the transmission fluid but didn't notice any difference in shifting. Please help if you know any information. Thanks.

What do you have in it now for Fluid?

try shifting into 5th (if you have 5 speed) before shifting into reverse. i had a problem with a little grind when just shifting into reverse. now i always shift into 5th first.

Mine sometimes doesn't go into reverese unless I either move car foward slightly or I put into 5th then reverse

Mine is also difficult to put into reverse...its not the syncro. I just had my entire tranny rebuilt ~300 miles ago and it has been doing it before and after the rebuild.

I always go into 3rd or 1st, then down to reverse. It'll go every time. Mine to is very difficult to get into reverse when it's cold if I don't do that.

Haha, mine is the same way. But honestly, i dont think we should have to go into another gear before going into reverse. Its not like its difficult to do or anything, but you spend $30K on a car you expect to be able to get it into reverse on the first try. None of my other vehicles have ever done that and Ive had maybe 4-5 manual tranny cars in the last few years.

I've got synchromesh in my tranny and in the morning in the cold its a little notchy into reverse, but it goes in fine.

I've always done it on every car. It lines up the gears so it goes in easier. In my '91 Civic it actually said that in the manual. I'm not sure if the Evo's does or not, but it just makes it easier on the tranny than forcing it in on a cold morning. Then it just became habit for me and I do it all the time now.

Hmm I was always under the impression reverse didn't have a syncro, but it was a straight cut gear instead. Guess I need to research more

i'm having the same problem

there is no reverse synchro. you're not trying to "synchronize" anything. the problem stems from when your standing still (neither the drive dogs on the collar are moving nor the gear face it self is moving) and the dogs are aligned that they hit the flat face of the gear rather than falling in the drive slots. This is completely normal and more common when the car is cold because the shaft (with the gears attached) or the collar (attached to the shift fork) is less likely to rotate with the very cold and viscous fluid.

shifting into a different gear can cause the shafts to rotate slightly thus aligning the gears with the dogs.

If it is really stubborn then leave the car in neutral, release the clutch and then reengage it and try again. Works almost every time.

By releasing the clutch in neutral the components of the transmission move around allowing you to be better aligned for the reverse shift.

yes i have the some problem in goin into reverse/ first gear too from a cold start is it normal

Exactly. And I find it quicker and easier to just to go 3rd-Rev rather than pump my foot twice.