Mark Schrope wrote: > > Hi everybody- > > I'm in Idaho Falls on my way to Florida from California. I'm afraid the > manual transmission on my 89 Wolfsburg may be on its way out. > > Though it comes and goes, it's getting hard to put the van in gear. > Sometimes I have to force it a little bit, especially in reverse. However, > so far I can always get it into gear and I haven't felt anything funny > while I'm driving. I was hoping that I just had a leak, but I checked the > fluid and it is fine. > > I'm wondering if anybody has any advice or experience with this sort of > thing. How long does it take typically before I am completely dead in the > water? Is there something I can do to nurse the transmission so that it > will last longer? > > I have about 140,000 miles on the van, so I know it's due for a new > transmission. I'm just hoping I can make it another 2700 miles before I > have to deal with it. Is this realistic? > > If the transmission is going, will pushing it make the repair more > expensive in the long run? > > One final question. If I get stuck in some small town trying to deal with > it, what should I expect to pay? Is this something I can trust to a > regular transmission shop, or should I hold out for somebody with Vanagon > experience? > > Alternatively, does anybody know how to stretch one tank of gas 2700 miles > so that I can just get it into fourth and keep going? > > Thanks for any help. I'm off the list right now, so please reply pmail. > > Mark Schrope > > ======================== > Mark Schrope > 831-458-9363 (Home) > 831-459-5139 (Office) > 513 Koshland Way > Santa Cruz, CA 95064 > mschrope@nasw.org > ======================== Mark, My name is John and it could be a clutch issue as easily as a transmission problem. Does the clutch pedal have all the resistance it always had ? How much free play does the clutch have ? With the engine off, can you engage all gears ? How far off the floor does the clutch rise before the van moves ? Has any repair shop ever mentioned the term "pilot bearing" ? JP |
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