Recently I've manual swapped my Acura Integra with an LS Transmission and after struggling to get it on and finally being able to enjoy it a bit I've noticed that It's very hard to shift into 5th and Reverse it's almost like there's some type of wall blocking where 5th and reverse would be. Does anyone know what could be wrong? I've been told it could be my "gear selSo rector" but as I've never cracked open a transmission before I have no clue where or what signs of it going bad would be and all my searches lead to automatic gear selectors. I've also been told it could be my shift linkage but I already rebuilt mine so I'm ruling that out.

Can anyone point me into the right direction or anyone else ever had a similar problem? I'd rather try everything I can before having to pull and crack open the transmission.

 

sorry I meant to say Gear Selector

 

You’re saying the transmission was hard to get on?

 

No sorry the actual installation of the transmission was good. My problem is that after everything was bolted up if I play with the shifter it only feels like I have 4 gears 1-4 and then the area where 5th and Reverse are feels completely blocked off by something.

 

I suppose there could be an internal transmission issue. Is your shift linkage bent or very loose not allowing the gears to be properly selected? I’m sure not but just asking to be sure.

 

From what I noticed when rebuilding the shift linkeage no, no looseness in the shifter itself, All my other gears 1-4 go in nicely but I cant feel the inbetween part that tells me I'm in the position where 5th or R would be
1 3 5 1 3
As a visual demonstration Normally a Shifter should be like this l_l_l what I feel when Playing with the shifter is only this l_l and then the section where 5th and R is feels like a physical wall is blocking me from entering the section where those 2 gears would be
l l l l l
2 4 R 2 4

Hopefully this makes a bit more sense !

 

sorry that visual didn't format how I thought it would so I drew something up real quick on paint this is whats happening pretty much

 

Any metal flakes if you drain the transmission fluid?

 

If you can’t shift into 5th or reverse with the engine off, you probably have a shift fork problem. 5th and reverse share the same shift fork. Yours is probably bent.

Last ditch effort would be to take the shift linkage off and use a screwdriver to try and run through the gears with the screwdriver. If it still doesn’t work, your shift fork is probably bent or broken.