# Grinding Noise in Reverse **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** volkswagen, passat\ **Created:** [February 28, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/grinding-noise-in-reverse/61984 "2011-02-28T03:14:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lrlundberg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cab0a1/32.png) [@lrlundberg](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lrlundberg)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/grinding-noise-in-reverse/61984/1 "2011-02-28T03:14:13Z")
My 1.8 Turbo runs great, but when I am backing uphill (standard 5 speed trans), it makes a grinding noise. Is my tranny bad?! Or what is this? Never have a problem with any of the other gears… ---
**Author:** ![mleich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mleich](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mleich)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/grinding-noise-in-reverse/61984/2 "2011-02-28T03:31:20Z")
Is the car new to you or is it a new problem with your old car? Have you checked the level and condition of the transmission fluid? Personally, if it is just a noise I would simply avoid going backwards uphill. All transmissions make a different sound in reverse. Not really a grind but it does not sound the same as the forward gears. ---
**Author:** ![lrlundberg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cab0a1/32.png) [@lrlundberg](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lrlundberg)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 3:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/grinding-noise-in-reverse/61984/3 "2011-02-28T03:35:25Z")
It is relatively new to me (within the last 3 months). I will check the fluid. It is different than other reverse noises I have heard, way more obnoxious. I avoid backing up hill if at all possible! Thank you ---
**Author:** ![kizwiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7cd45c/32.png) [@kizwiki](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kizwiki)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 3:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/grinding-noise-in-reverse/61984/4 "2011-02-28T03:49:51Z")
You don’t say what year or mileage, or make and model. I guess it’s an Audi? How steep is this hill? A grinding noise in the reverse gear is not a death sentence for the standard tranny. It’s probably means nothing for the reverse gear. Most likely the car has a failing drive joint. These parts are easy and cheap to repair, and are designed and meant to fail before anything else. ---
**Author:** ![lrlundberg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cab0a1/32.png) [@lrlundberg](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lrlundberg)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/grinding-noise-in-reverse/61984/5 "2011-02-28T14:33:06Z")
2003 VW Passat, 87k miles. The steeper the hill, the louder the grinding. Thanks for the input and glad to hear that certain parts are designed to fail… ---
**Author:** ![lrlundberg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cab0a1/32.png) [@lrlundberg](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lrlundberg)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/grinding-noise-in-reverse/61984/6 "2011-02-28T15:03:27Z")
With a failing drive joint would there be any other “symptoms”?