Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 23:53:29 +0100 From: Martin Rich <M.G.Richnopsam.ac.uk> Subject: Re: 1999 9-3 Reverse question 5-sp manual
On 18 Aug 2003 10:29:06 -0700, dschadnopsamtiernet.net (don schad) wrote: >It was my (perhaps incorrect?) understanding that the point of >syncromesh is to assure that the gears are aligned correctly so that >they will engage and do so smoothly. The point of syncromesh is to get the various gears and shafts rotating at the same speed so that they'll engage smoothly. Historically, most gearboxes didn't have synchromesh on reverse on the basis that you'll only engage reverse when the car (and so the gears and shafts) is stationary. As I understand it there is now a trend to put synchromesh on reverse. In practice this would mean that, for example, if you'd been sitting in neutral, you could press the clutch and go rapidly into reverse without hearing a crunch from the gears. If you can't get into reverse when the car's stationary and your foot's been on the clutch for more than a couple of seconds, then syncromesh wouldn't help you > If this is the case and without >syncromesh the car won't go into reverse quickly/reliably then I would >consider it a safely problem. The lack of syncromesh itself may not >make a safely issue, but ceratinly a lack of reverse-on-demand does. > If the car won't go into reverse quickly/reliably then there's something significantly wrong with the gearbox, and don't let anybody fob you off with 'it's just a Saab quirk' Martin
