Reverse Gearbox Transmission Problem 1997 SE

Hullo,
My 97 RR SE auto periodically won't engage Reverse. The mirrors dip and the dash indicates reverse, but it seems to enter neutral gear (although once it appeared to stay in park).

Oddly, all other gears seem to shift smoothly and accurately. It is a bit eerie how quietly and smoothly the transmission shifts. If any mis-shifting is occurring it would be downshifting.

I just picked up this bad boy with 107k miles on it. So I don't have a history. Fluid seems clean and full. Problem seems to come up after engine is warm.

Here is the kicker: if I shift back into drive, or neutral or park and then back into reverse it seems to always work. So I shift out of reverse and then back in and voila! No revving. I am either thinking a tooth is missing somewhere or there is some sort of electronic glitcH?

I would try cable and xyz switch adjustment, there is a special tool to line up the xyz switch.

as you're getting all the signs its in reverse, i.e mirror dip, reverse lights on etc but no reverse then it could well be cable adjustment, xyz switch tells various ecu's on the car what gear you are in, but if its not engaged in the box itself then you will have the problem you mention.

To adjust the cable............1 select park. 2 crawl underneith and undo the 13mm nut that holds the cable to the lever on the side of the gearbox. 3 push the lever forwards towards the front of the car and hold it. 4 tighten the nut.

now try it, if its still the same, get the xyz switch adjusted, that should do it, but if not then the next step will be to change the atf and filter.

It is literally called the "XYZ" switch? Are you pulling my leg?

I the military it was common to send young recruits to the supply closet to find some "grid squares" grid squares of course didn't exist... but it was great watching them ask someone to help them find grid squares....