TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:33 pm

I am a new van owner ('90 MV, standard, no cool upgrades yet). I've been reading as many of the posts as I can. This site is great!!

Problem: The Van called Finally is stuck in reverse.
Cause: unknown
Symptoms: will only drive backwards
Case history: owner of 2 months was happily driving onto on-ramp of thankfully short freeway. 1st, 2nd & 3rd gear feel pretty normal. Slightly difficult to get into 4th gear. Got off at next exit. Upon attempting to shift back into 1st gear to get moving again, the owner realized that Finally was stuck in reverse. Said owner was lucky enough to roll to a shady spot on the side of the road to wait for a tow home.

So, what the Hell is wrong?? I got out the Bentley manual, per TheSamba Forum, and played around with the shift linkages. They look quite happy, though the plastic ball on the shift lever was shoved clear up the shaft (I'll be fixing that). I found I could move the shift lever by hand and I attempted to find neutral. It felt like I was doing some shifting, but when I got the van on the ground she wouldn't budge. I started her up, and sure enough; stuck in reverse.

So, TheSamba Forum: What Up?!?

Fri Jul 18, 2008 5:21 am

Not sure about the Vanagon transaxles, but the Beetle units used a "hocky stick" internal lever for sliding the gears in/out, via the shift rod linkage. My old 68 Beetle would not shift into 2nd or 4th, and then it got stuck in 3rd, perminantly.

I ended up buying a good used transaxle, which are much cheaper than our Vanagon ones.

You should be able to reach up there by the transaxle and manually shift the outer linkage without difficulty. If you can't, try (underneath at the transaxle) "pushing in/out" then back and forth. Reverse would be the transaxle shaft pushing in, then back, so you want to pull out, then back (for first), or forward (for second).

Fri Jul 18, 2008 10:16 am

Have a helper shift while you watch the linkage.

And don't forget about the box up front (under gear shift). I don't know exactly how it should work, but I'm pretty sure the end of the shifter slots into the little "shelves" in this box. They guide the shifter.

It may be that something in this area isn't right.

Cheers,

Neil.

Fri Jul 18, 2008 11:44 am

So, I played around with the shift linkage up at the front of the van. You can lay under the van and by pulling and rotating the shift linkage, shift through the gears (I'd disconnected the shifting lever from the shift linkage at the transmission). The box in the front looks right - though it might be missing its plastics and badly needs to be greased up. No trouble up front.
Playing around with the shifting lever on the transmission yielded strange results. Rotating the lever front and back, it felt like I was driving the mechanism inside the transmission into the various gears. I was also able to push the lever towards the transmission simulating the position that would come from putting it in reverse. Still stuck in gear.
So, I blocked the wheels and lowered the van. I got behind the engine and kicked out the block. I then reached past the engine to the transmission and put the shifting lever in all the available locations. The van remains stuck in gear.
Without engaging the clutch, should I be able to hard shift through the gears? It seems like it should be really tough to manually move the shift lever.
Does this indicate that something is amiss inside the transmission? I fear that something has crapped out inside.

Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:25 pm

Van called Finally wrote: .....

Playing around with the shifting lever on the transmission yielded strange results. Rotating the lever front and back, it felt like I was driving the mechanism inside the transmission into the various gears. I was also able to push the lever towards the transmission simulating the position that would come from putting it in reverse. Still stuck in gear.
So, I blocked the wheels and lowered the van. I got behind the engine and kicked out the block. I then reached past the engine to the transmission and put the shifting lever in all the available locations. The van remains stuck in gear.
Without engaging the clutch, should I be able to hard shift through the gears? It seems like it should be really tough to manually move the shift lever.
Does this indicate that something is amiss inside the transmission? I fear that something has crapped out inside.

Engine off you should be able to shift gears without disengaging the clutch.

When you change gears at the selector shaft on tranny, do you feel a positive "click" or "chunk" (in a good way) into each gear?

If not, maybe the part that slides onto the shaft (splined IIRC) is slipping on this part thus not moving the shaft.

If for sure you've eliminated all points in the external shift linkage parts, then, and I'm guessing somewhat, you likely have internal tranny problems. :(

I know there's more knowledgeable people on this list that will hopefully chime in.

Neil.

Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:55 pm

When I attempt to shift gears with the shift lever at the transmission, I get a good solid clunk. It actually sounds nice and clean, much like I'd expect. It's not acting like it's jammed or anything. I sort of assumed that if the 3-4 gears inside the transmission had come apart, they'd be screwing up this "clunk" feel when I shift.

Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:38 pm

Interesting.

I would have thought the same. But then again, I've never looked inside a transaxle before either.

I have "heard" (online) nothing but good stuff about this guy:

Daryl of AA Transaxle
(425) 788-4070
aatransaxle.com

I believe he's in or around the Seattle area.

Cheers,

Neil.

Tue Jul 22, 2008 7:25 am

Van called Finally wrote: When I attempt to shift gears with the shift lever at the transmission, I get a good solid clunk. It actually sounds nice and clean, much like I'd expect. It's not acting like it's jammed or anything. I sort of assumed that if the 3-4 gears inside the transmission had come apart, they'd be screwing up this "clunk" feel when I shift.
In the 1989 and newer models, the 3-4 hub is not likely to be failing as soon.
But there are other parts that still break. The shifter forks and selector inside the 091/1 (1983 and newer) are much different that any used earlier in the either the bus or bug trannies.
And some of these parts break, too.
There are several real tranny experts out there. Darryl is one of the best.
(Ask him about his turbo waterboxer, too!)
Al

Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:20 am

Thanks to everyone who posted a reply or came to have a look.
I've decided that the problem is most likely inside the transmission. I've given Daryl a call and we had a chat. I spent the weekend pulling the transmission and have been working on cleaning it up a bit before I take it over to Daryl. Still have to find the 17mm allen wrench to drain out the vital fluids before the trip.

Thanks,
Mike

Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:38 am

Van called Finally wrote: Thanks to everyone who posted a reply or came to have a look.
I've decided that the problem is most likely inside the transmission. I've given Daryl a call and we had a chat. I spent the weekend pulling the transmission and have been working on cleaning it up a bit before I take it over to Daryl. Still have to find the 17mm allen wrench to drain out the vital fluids before the trip.

Thanks,
Mike

"Schucks" autoparts stores carry a bit that goes on a 3/8" drive ratchet that is a 17mm allen, it costs 4-5 bucks.

Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:13 am

Van called Finally wrote: Thanks to everyone who posted a reply or came to have a look.
I've decided that the problem is most likely inside the transmission. I've given Daryl a call and we had a chat. I spent the weekend pulling the transmission and have been working on cleaning it up a bit before I take it over to Daryl. Still have to find the 17mm allen wrench to drain out the vital fluids before the trip.

Thanks,
Mike
If you have trouble getting the drain plug out you can always take the bellhousing loose or off and just drain the trans into a drain pan.
There are 10(?) 13mm ATF bolts from the inside of the bellhousing and along the bottom holding the 2 parts together. You don't even have to take them out, just loosen about 5 turns, then give the bellhousing a whack with a rubber hammer or a chunk of 2x4 to open up the crack a bit. I do this while it's over a drain pan and the oil will just ooze out the crack and into the pan.
Let the expert remove the plug if you have doubts. Much better than wrecking it first.
Al

Mon Jul 28, 2008 9:40 pm

Last week I took theery genuine and honestly seemed to enjoy his job and transmission over to Daryl. He seemed to enjoy his job and was very proud of his work. I was impressed.

While at the shop, Daryl showed me on another transmission what the shift should feel like. It should be really solid and a clean, hard clunk into each gear. It should also require a bit of force; giant lever arm up front with small force to small lever arm in back equals large force. Mine ain't workin. I haven't gotten the diagnosis yet, but I'm hoping it won't be too painful.

Thanks, 69doublecab for the tip about loosening the bolts and smacking the tranny with a 2x4 (that reads funny :shock: ). It turns out that you only need to drain the transmission if you ship it.

I'll update you when I know more.

Mon Jul 28, 2008 11:03 pm

There are a few other shops that might know as much as Darryl at AA, but there are none nicer. He has given free advice on the Vanagon.com form for probably 10 years. If you really get into the inner circle, he might mix you up a drink. Being a dark beer connoisseur, myself, I can't quite remember what it was, but it involved ice and a blender. and was done exquisitely.
I think you need to be there at closing time, paying your bill. Don't hold me to this, but that's what I heard.
some day, I hope to meet him myself.