Gear Shift Reverse Lock Out

mazdatenfive · Postby **mazdatenfive** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:26 am

I had an embarrassing moment recently of trying to select 4th gear from fifth gear but got a crushing sound because I had tried to select reverse.

Should I change the gearbox oil now or wait until its next service.

Do any MX-5 gearboxes have the reverse gear lock out to prevent accidental selection of the wrong gear.

Old Dude · Postby **Old Dude** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 2:20 pm

I had a similar problem whilst driving my sons Pulsar..........I went to put it in 6th gear, like my NB8B, and remembered as I heard a not so common sound that he only has 5 gears.
On the 6 speed NB the resistance is harder but its still not a lock out.

Cheers
Dale

Benny · Postby **Benny** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:54 pm

No reverse lock-outs on any MX-5 gearboxes, I'm afraid.

However, there is a tecnique you can use to prevent this from ever happening again.
I call it the open palm system.

When changing gear into 3rd or 4th gears, regardless if the change is up or down, I use an open hand to move the stick either up or down.
By not using any sideways motion, and just letting the spring do its thing, it works perfectly every single time.

Using this system, it's really quick and easy to change from 5th to 4th, or 2nd to 3rd and you'll never miss-slot it ever again!