the reverse gear is not working but all other gears work fine.

1998 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA
130,000 MILES
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MARJIE68
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
is it the gear shift or the transmission going out? It was making a kind of grinding noise when going in reverse and would sometimes pop out of reverse for awhile before it went out. otherwise it drives fine but it wont go in reverse.
Oct 20, 2011 at 3:11 PM
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KASEKENNY
  • CAR REPAIR CONTRIBUTOR
  • 18,907 POSTS
There are a couple of things that can cause this. First would be a failing clutch.

Here are a number of guides that will help with this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/clutch-doesnt-work-sometimes-or-not-at-all

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/clutch-symptoms

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-clutch

Normally you will get grinding in first as well, however, that is not required.

The next possible cause if the shifter is out of adjustment. So, I am attaching the info below on how to adjust this and make sure it is not the issue.

The last thing that others have reported is the reverse gear housing has plastic teeth and they strip and break causing no reverse.

I have not seen this but others say it repaired this issue, so it is worth noting.

Please run through this and let us know what other questions you have. Thanks
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Dec 29, 2021 at 4:22 PM
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