# Car wont reverse

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-reverse/59390>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** escort, ford\
**Created:** [January 1, 2011, 10:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-reverse/59390 "2011-01-01T22:35:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![katies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c5a1d2/32.png) [@katies](https://community.cartalk.com/u/katies)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2011, 10:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-reverse/59390/1 "2011-01-01T22:35:22Z")

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my 1997 automatic ford escort will not reverse, when i hit the gas, it acts likes its not in gear. but it drives foreward fine. any ideas what this could be?

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**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 12:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-reverse/59390/2 "2011-01-02T00:25:26Z")

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Have you checked the level and condition of the transmission fluid? That’s the first place to start. Has the transmission been maintained according to the owner’s manual?

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**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 12:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-reverse/59390/3 "2011-01-02T00:30:22Z")

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If it isn’t already over filled add a bottle of Trans-Medic or Trans-X and drive it normally for a few days and occasionally attempt reverse. If it begins to work get the fluid and filter changed and add another bottle of Trans \_ and get an estimate on an overhaul. You might need one soon.

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**Author:** ![transman618](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/transman618/32/24_2.png) [@transman618](https://community.cartalk.com/u/transman618)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 7:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-reverse/59390/4 "2011-01-02T07:23:31Z")

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Reverse failure is almost always an internal problem. If your fluid level is good and your shift linkage/cable is good the trans will need to come out.

transman

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-reverse/59390/5 "2011-01-02T15:16:02Z")

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```
When it comes to transmissions "transman" is the man. however I will suggest that checking your shift linkage/cable would be first on my list.
```