316i Auto will not drive in reverse

[Tichaona]

Greetings to you all,i m in a bit of a fix;i ve got a 1990 316i auto which drives in all the other gears apart from reverse.
Can anyone help me out there
Thanks[/b]

[Speedtouch]

Welcome to the Zone! Such a problem may be caused by a loose/broken selector linkage or worn bush (if you're lucky), or a fault in the 'box itself.

Take a look underneath at the linkages, and check the oil - it should be a cherry red colour. Brown colour is usually indicative of damage.

[Tichaona]

Thanks Speedtouch ,I will have a look at that tomorrow

[Fred555]

Accurately check the fluid level (car on a FLAT surface meaning flat in all directions) with the engine running and having first of all driven for several miles to thoroughly warm up the ATF having moved the gear stick slowly through all the gears PRND321 and then left idling in either P or N - use the upper two line marks (not the bulges) the lines are the fairly faint marks on the plastic tip of ATF dipstick to take the reading when fluid is hot - look at the colour of the ATF on a piece of paper - surprising how many have no reverse gear from low fluid - top up with Dexron III (3) if fluid thin or dark drop sump change strainer with its "O" ring & reassemble with new sump gasket, clean the magnets in the sump - shot rubber engine mounts or possibly the rubber gearbox mount can cause the selector linkage adjustment to go out of alignment.

A clogged strainer can also cause problems - Reverse gear takes the most hydraulic pressure to engage & strainer clog restricts fluid flow causing operating pressure drop - kick down cable? - connected and correctly adjusted it also varies the gearbox operating pressure