Replaced clutch and now I can't shift into reverse?

[PugnacAutMortem]

I just replaced the clutch and slave cylinder on my 07 Kia Spectra and it works perfectly in gears 1-5...but I cannot get it to shift into reverse. At first I thought it was because the linkage was hitting some wiring that runs over the top of it but it's totally free. It feels a little difficult to shift it into reverse, but it seems like it's in gear...when you try and actually reverse the engine bogs down as if it's in gear and you aren't giving it enough gas but it doesn't go anywhere. A couple of times the shifter has stuck in between neutral and reverse so much so that I can't move it anywhere. I had to roll the car back and the shifter will just suddenly pop back out into neutral. Oh and this is a completely new issue as it never had an issue going into reverse before we replaced the clutch.

Anybody have an idea what the deal is? Any help is much appreciated.

[HoneyBadger]

Did you have any parts left over when you put it back together?

[BPTactical]

Re bleed the clutch system, your not getting full disengagement.
It will go into the forward gears OK because of the syncros, but reverse is not synchronized and therefore will not engage as easily.

[Irving]

Hope it's that, because that is easy and you won't have to take anything apart again. I had to pull a fwd transmission by myself and it put a *smudge on my Man Card.



*Not quite a punch.

[Alpha2]

smudge, punch...your man card is compromised. Watch Kill Bill 1 and 2 and this will be expunged.

[Irving]

smudge, punch...your man card is compromised. Watch Kill Bill 1 and 2 and this will be expunged.

Ong Bok, Tai Warrior is the most manly martial arts film I've ever seen, still to this day.

[SideShow Bob]

Re bleed the clutch system, your not getting full disengagement.
It will go into the forward gears OK because of the syncros, but reverse is not synchronized and therefore will not engage as easily.

^^ Most likely this ^^ You could try to see if "double clutching" will let the transmission go into reverse.

[Stevensje]

I had an automatic transmission that wouldn't go into reverse after a tranny swap. It was the tensioning of the shift cable.... maybe different for a manual... Don't know.

[bingobangobongo]

The linkage needs to be adjusted, your in 5th instead of reverse