I got in my car and put it in reverse and it just flopped over to reverse and would not stay locked in place. So i tryed 1st gear and its would go into gear but it would not stay locked into its position, i could move the shifter striaght right like into 5th gear position.

I already checked the bolts on the shift linkage and they are tight so i called the local motorsports shop and he said the Arm Spring is what holds the gears in their position he said it would be $350 and would take 2days or should i try and replace it myself.

I need advice because i have done everything else to a car except rebiuld a tranny so tranny builders advise me please -thanks

 

We don't specialize in transmission but I believe I can give you a small bit of advice. There are 2 bolts (12 or 14mm) on the outside casing which you must remove before splitting the gearbox. When these bolts are removed, you will find a spring and ball bearing under each bolt. These parts hold the linkage in place i.e. holds the car in gear.

First, make sure under each bolt there is a spring AND a ball bearing. DO NOT move the linkage while these bolts are out!! Simpley replace the springs, which should not cost more than $10.00 each from Honda/Acura and make sure the bearings look fine (no visible damage).

This should fix your problem. As for the $350.00....wow....I could've been rich.

 

hey GTM thanks for the advice i will check this out when it stops raining outside but i have a few more questions before i start taking bolts out. Is their any possible way that the spring or bearing could not be their and if so would this then require taking off the tranny and tearing it apart?also do you have any pics to where these bolts are located I'm having a hard time picturing where these bolt are located? What would cause these springs or bearings to go bad on a 99 tranny? -agian thanks for the help I hope this is the problem.

 

If the springs and bearings are not there. You have quite a problem. The trans will have to be taken out and the gearbox split. The worst that could happen is you have small ball bearings swimming in your trans casing. It is virtually impossible to lose the springs.

Sorry no pics, but what you are looking for are 2 14mm bolts located in staggered formation underneath the trans on ths "small" part i.e. NOT the bell housing. Just look about 4-5 inches past your transmission/torque mount.

Good luck.

 

Just doing a tranny tonight. The spring fits inside a hollow bolt that is threaded into the tranny. At the end of the spring sits a ball bearing. It is impossible for this ball bearing to go in the tranny (unless the tranny broke apart). The ball bearing is used to push against the shifting forks (pops into notches in the fork rod to stableize the fork.) I know my explanation does not paint a clear picture but there are two different bolts that if they both came out independently of each other, it would not cause the symptoms described in the first post. My guess is there is something wrong in the shift linkage (like a missing shift rod pin).

 

Earl thanks for the info. but if it is the pin would that cause my car to go into gear but not stay in its position and if you know it is the pin then could i replace it or should I pay some guy to do it for $350 just for labor no parts. thanks

 

I have an Y80 and a SC4 doing the same thing right now. I put it in 1st and can move the shifter all around, I havent really tried fixing it yet.

 

is this a difficult procedure to do?? does it require taking the whole tranny off the block?? my car moves in gears like it is in neutral on all the gears.. dont know how or why but after my car accident i put it back in and it started doing this..