Basically, I bought a 2000 neon, 5 speed, in march of 06, it ran fine/still does. When I bought it i noticed that the shift stick had a lot of play, when its in a gear, you can move it around so much that it felt like it was in neutral. I sort of babied it so it would last. All of the sudden the other day, I could not get it into reverse. It took about five minutes to do so, and it was fine. This morning, I was parked on the side of the rode at my girls house, I turned into a drive way to get facing the other direction on the street, I had to push the car out of the driveway, as it would not go into reverse. I think it might be the linkage...after some research. Any ideas?

to give a more detailed description of the problem, its sort of like a solid object in the way of the shifter, not letting it go into reverse. It's not grinding, so I have basically eliminated the clutch...Some help would be greatly apperciated, SORRY for the longish post!

 

will it go in with the engine off using the clutch?

 

Most 5 speeds have a lockout that stops you from shifting from 5th to reverse, maybe its stuck? I am sure you have tried, but maybe try putting it in gear then reverse.

 

good call. i always put mine in 1st, then reverse.

 

Not an issue of 5th to first, and it doesnt matter if its running or not......its very intermitten, it has doesnt done it yet today, and only a few times yesterday. but when it does happen, its something that takes like 15 minutes to get to work...GRRR

 

my neon is da same. wen its in gear it does fell like its in neutral. as far as da reverse thing, mine did da same. now before i go to reverse i put it in second gear den i go to reverse. but wen i do put it on reverse without going to second it grinds. so i go second den reverse try it