Date:         Sat, 6 Jun 1998 18:32:27 -0400
Reply-To:     Madsen <madsen@HOME.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Madsen <madsen@HOME.COM>
Organization: @Home Network
Subject:      Stuck in gear
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

frank brand wrote:
>
> While driving my '89 Vanagon today, as I pulled away from a stop and
> shifted into third gear, the trans got stuck in third. No amount of
> tugging or pulling on the shift lever will let me get into neutral or
> any other gear. Has this ever happened to anyone else? Any solutions?
>
> Thanks,  Frank

When I bought my '87 Vanagon 3 weeks ago, I had the same problem. The
seller made me aware of this and gave me another gear box with the van.
I had it installed and now it drives like (almost) new. :)
The mechanic who did the work said it was a worn or bad 3rd gear syncro
and the only remedy was a rebuild or another good gear box. Before I
changed the gear box, I greased up the shift linkage with lithium grease
and seemed to help a little. Also, try to get it OUT of gear BEFORE you
come to a complete stop.

Hope that helps, Bye

Ken Madsen

'87 Vanagon GL
'87 Golf Diesel
'95 Jetta GLX