Vanagon won't go into reverse (manual trans)??

[Justkysor]

aloha,
I am looking into a vanagon to purchase. the body is in good shape but the owner says the clutch plate is off and so it wont go into reverse, it is manual transmission. is this a real possability, or is the transmission shot? anything else i should invesitgate?
any info would be helpful.
thanks.

[ALIKA T3]

Hello!

it can be so many things, specially the early aircooled transmissions.

I would check the shift linkage from front to back specially the condition of the inside of the box above the spare tire and the selector at the transmission, but the clutch it definitely not the reason: that's BS!

You're gonna drop big coin on this van down the line anyway, so start low
_________________
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[Justkysor]

thanks for the reply, i dont mind wrenching on it as it would be a project. its good to know that its not the clutch, so if it is the shift linkage should i be looking at replacing these parts? i see some places offer kits to fix sloppy shifting.

[Sodo]

[Justkysor]

the seller did say that sometimes it will go right into reverse and other times it has trouble, when i was there looking at it the transmission would not go into reverse at all.

[Sodo]

Engine running when trying to put in Reverse? Is the clutch OK when driving forward gears? Sorry ya never know what the sellers level of mechanical understanding is.

What you describe could br a normal linkage problem, maybe just adjustments, or maybe needs some linkage parts renewed. In general I'd bet its external linkage, solvable, and you can use it to get a lesser sale price.
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'90 Westy EJ25, NEW oil rings (!) 2Peloquins, 3knobs, SyncroShop pressure-oiled pinion-bearing & GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox.
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered original gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[Justkysor]

thats what i like to hear and so i will keep my fingers crossed that all it would need is an adjustment. thank you for the responses.

[ALIKA T3]

[Justkysor]

Update.
I did end up purchasing the above mentioned vanagon. I havent had a chance to work on the shift linkage adjustment but on my drive home with it i noticed that not only does it not go into reverse but also will not go into 5th gear. This seems to go right along with all the things I have read about the linkage being out of adjustment.
i will get some pics up and let you all know how it goes in the next couple weeks.
thanks for all your replies.

[wyldryce]

Hmm, since most of the Vanagons don't have a 5th gear, this isn't terribly surprising

Does the van go into reverse with the engine off? What happens if you try to shift into reverse with the engine off and then start it? If it will, can you then get it out of reverse with the engine running?

[Justkysor]

At this point all I can say is the shift knob showes 5th on it. I played around with the linkage adjustment only to find I'm missing the spacer ring under the rubber guide the shift lever goes through. So I will be on the look out for a new spacer ring before I proceed.

[Waldi]

The knob can be changed.
But if your 1st is down left it is a 5G.

I just had the same problem with bad working R.
After changivg the plastic parts on the shifter, it worked.

What you should try is to dismount the shift on the gearbox and try to shift into R direkt on the gearbox. If this works, the problem should not come from the gearbox.

[Thebeas]

Since its not the original shift knob, is it possible the gears on the knob dont show where the gears really are?

I've owned cars where R is on the right side and down. Vanagons are to the left and up.

its possible right? I used to struggle the first week or so of getting mine to go into R, but someone pointed out you have to push down. felt like a dope...
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1983 2WD 1.9 Digijet

[dobryan]

Can you post a pic of the shift knob?

Thanks.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2010 Subaru EJ25 (Vanaru) and Peloquin TBD

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[danfromsyr]

the shift rod coupling bushings up over the gas tank on air cooled models.
you have to drop the fuel tank to service them, they used to be NLA but I believe busdepot & Vanagain have that bushing again.
it's smart to refresh the fuel tank seals/hoses anyways.

you can just see the coupling by peering in the front pass wheel well over the fuel tank.. bright flashlight and someone to move the shifter to see how much slop is there.
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[Justkysor]

[crazyvwvanman]

That is not a vanagon shift knob. 5th is in the wrong place on that knob.

On Vanagons for reverse you must first push down toward the floor, then left and forward with the lever.

Mark

[Zeitgeist 13]

That's a knob from a Mk2 Golf/Jetta
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
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[freddymac]

hello, when I push down then left and forward, it goes into first!!!! I can not get into reverse,,,, I have a Vanagon Westfilia 1981,,,, Please any help////

[Wildthings]