Joe,

No one has mentioned to try some synthetic fluid. This helped my 91, but did not cure the problem. Also look at adjusting the reverse detent gate up on top at the shifter. Sometimes this helps. On my 91 it did not, but on my old 82 240 it made a world of difference. You can try to see if this might help by carefully shifting while holding up the reverse lock. Just don't shift into reverse while moving forward! Also for reverse, simply put the car in first after it stops moving, and then in to reverse. My car almost never grinds anymore after doing this. I have also heard that overfilling the transmission from the top helps the sticking too. Have you simply checked the fluid level? Even refreshing the fluid with regular ATF may help a bit. I used Amsoil supershift ATF, and it did help a bit. My car has 240 kms on it.

I have had a few people talk about adjusting or lubing the linkage, but no one seems to know how to do this to fix the problem. Others note that the linkage mount can break at the front and cause this problem. Never had a chance to find out on mine if this was a factor.

My transmission has good and bad days. It really doesn't like to be driven hard in hot weather, or it gets sticky. If you have some patience when you drive, I don't find it a really big deal, but some days it gets a little frustrating. Just pop it into first as you coast to a stop, but then you worry about wear on the throw out bearing sitting at a light etc.

Sean