Date:         Wed, 22 Dec 1999 14:02:02 -0800
Reply-To:     Tim King <tking_ms@MSN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tim King <tking_ms@MSN.COM>
Subject:      Syncro tranny pops out of fourth gear

Hi Listers --

I can't find anything about this in the archives... I'm not sure if this
means there's so much info Gerry times out before retrieving the info, or
that it mean once the owner finds out how much sycnro tranny rebuild cost,
they don't get around to posting any info because they kill themselves!

Anyway, about 1000 miles ago, my friendly yellow lab, Buddy, popped the gear
shift lever out of fourth -- this happened while the tranny was under a load
(up hill), and it happened a couple times on one trip. It might not even be
related, but the THUNK was the same

For a month or so after that, things were fine.  Then a week ago, I was
driving a long, and, thunk, it pops out of gear. Weird, I thought, must not
have been all the way in gear. I shifted back into fourth and all was fine.
Next day, thunk again, but it wouldn't stay unless I kept some pressure on
it. After about 15 minutes in fourth, it stayed fine. Well, it's gotten
progressively worse. I have to keep light pressure on the lever to keep the
tranny in fourth all the time.

First question: Could this be linkage related? I'm holding out hope, but I
personally doubt it. The van shifts into all gears just fine. I'm using
Redline MT-90 fluid and it was changed about 800 miles ago. There weren't
significant amounts of metal filings on the plug. Any other ideas. Motor
mounts? Tranny mounts? Sigh.... My guess is that it's some nasty internal
problem.

That brings me to question 2:

I have plans to have the tranny rebuilt as part of an engine swap this
summer. Will holding the lever in place while I drive damage the tranny to
the point where a rebuild can't be done? I don't drive gobs of miles --
maybe I'll do 3k between now and summer.

BTW, it's not like I have to "Hold" the lever in fourth like a squareback I
once drove. That thing took actual muscles to keep in gear. For the vanagon,
it's more like moderate pressure to keep it from popping out of gear. I'll
appreciate any feedback/information.

Thanks,

Tim King
Seattle, WA
87 Syncro Westy
89 Audi 200tqw with snapped clutch pedal -- is it tranny week or what?