no reverse

[dbwagner112]

I've bee having problems with my manual transmission in my echo making a grinding sound in all forward gears. I changed fluid and it quieted for for about 5 minutes and then it started back up. Well I was driving down the road and the grinding for real loud for a second and then it bucked real hard and the grinding sound was replaced by a high pitched whining sound. I found out it had lost reverse and if the car moved backwards, it makes a popping sound and is hard to push. Does anyone have any idea what's wrong and how bad it is?

[Dollar]

Originally Posted by dbwagner112

Does anyone have any idea what's wrong and how bad it is?

How bad it is? I think it's toast!

[denman]

This will be one of those "decision times" about your car. Knowing little about your car such as year, mileage or overall condition, the several thousand dollars in repairs may be justified. The gearbox will have to come out, so in the process a new clutch and engine rear main seal will be advisable. FWIW these cars are legendary for being low maintenance and holding their value, so for example if it were mine I would do the repairs and restore my "tiny perfect car". Shop around to get a best price, but make sure the low bid isn't skipping the clutch and seal replacement. Good luck and be sure to let us know how you make out with this

[ericlp]

yeah and if your gonna do all that, might as well check suspension (tie rods, struts, etc...etc...) Also, might want to replace the cv's ... or at least look at lubing them up and changing out the dust boots.

Nothing worse then spending several thousand dollars on a new transmission just to have to turn around and spend another grand on axles ... since the parts are cheap is the work of getting them out that's costly.

But like Denman states the echo really is a great little car that gets 40MPG and as far as I'm concerned it can't be beat. Sometimes it's well worth fixing something that could go for a few hundred thousand more miles and save you thousands in gas alone!