Eurovan 5speed Shift Linkage Problem

[mel22b]

I was driving through Beautiful BC on the weekend (yes I am bragging) and something went wrong with the shifting. I had access to all the gears however I had to push the shifter in/down to get it to go into 1st and 2nd. This made it a bit tricky since I could easily hit reverse while I was shifting. Also located first when I was in a hurry was a little difficult, nevermind stressful.
Just wondering if I can just adjust the linkage, or do I have a bigger problem? If its an adjustment, any tips you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again all.

Stephen
N Vancouver

[mel22b]

No one knows I guess.
I'll climb under there and start wrenchin'.
If all goes bad its ok since I have a M3 SMG tranny goin' bad under my bed i can throw in.

[T2T4]

Have you looked for help or a past post on Ev update - a yahoo group ...

Very extensive index and search capabilities. I found it by entering Eurovan Update in Google. Gregory in Kentucky has a newsletter called Eurovan Update, which is great, and the yahoo group is a good compliment.

Not enough Eurovanners on Samba. I'll stay in touch when I see your posts...

[gdavis]

I have just rebuild my linkage on a 1995 Eurovan and now have the same issue.

[T2T4]

Wish I was tooling around B.C....Hope you are having a blast.

You must have a 93'....there is a 93' year specific Yahoo group I just found today that has been going since 2002.

Greogory in Kentucky is a big help as well, and is dedicated to the Euro'

Buy parts from Steven in San Diego - he supports the yahoo groups quite well, and is very smart on parts. I have great experiences with his company.

Here is the info:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/93eurovans

[email protected]

Europarts-SD.com

I agree with other post - The Eurovan group for later models is fantastic - many, many posts and good search capability.

Let me know what you find as I have a 93' MV 5 -spd

Wish Samba had more Eurovan interest. They may be on the yahoo sites.

[fastwagens]

I had a issue with our 5 speed it ended up being the ball and socket in the linkage, the socket is a made of nylon, this is a cheap repair although somewhat hard to get to.

[gdavis]

What has happened is that, normally the linkage is sprung so the shifter lies directly beneath first and second when resting, now it is between third and forth. I have to depress the lever as if going into reverse to get to first and second. Downshifts are a pain. I have heard that there is a factory adjustmet tool but have yet to speak with " a dealer" so..... The ball socket has been rebuilt and that is where the issue began. Before it was ok albeit very loose. I really don't what to have to go to a dealer since they will kill me with hours. I checked yahoo ev and didn't find anything. Thanks in advance for any help.

[seiferthj]

If you do find out what happened, please let me know. On a trip through VT over the weekend, my EV stopped going reverse. It also became very difficult to get into either "side" of the transmission. Eg either I had R, 1, 2 or 3, 4, 5 and the shifter feels very sloppy. Sounds like a similar problem...

[redarrow1978]

I been looking around the forums on how to adjust the linkage so all gears shift properly and couldn't find anything.

I finally remembered that I'm german and that there's probably a ton of T4 mt's with the same problem there, and voila! I found the answer in a german speaking site.

So that we american EV owners can benefit I'm spreading the message:

If your shifter is sticky and hard to put in gear, or has a hard time downshifting, but smooth on upshifting etc.... Do this:

Check all plastic parts/bushings in the linkage and put white grease on them, replace if necessary. Check all the bolts holding linkage in place for tightness and play. That includes the bolts on the tranny itself and the bolts holding gear shifter box in place under the cab. (that's what was loose in my situation)

If your problem still persists try the following.
1. There's only one 13mm bolt (accessible from under the cab) that allows for adjustment of the linkage. Loosen it and let the tranny side of the linkage be in neutral (the spring load should keep it there naturally).
2. Go into the cab (doors closed) and push gear shifter all the way to passenger side, now measure the distance to a fixed point on either door (I used the door opener lever)
3. Now push the shifter all the way to left (but not in reverse!) and measure the distance from the same fixed point on door.
4. Now divide the distance (mine was about 4" difference, divided it into 2") and move the shifter to the center of the difference.
5. Hold the shifter in place by attaching string to either door handle and using zip ties to fine adjust so that it stays in place
6. Go and tighten the 13mm bolt and you're done!

This is a workaround to using a factory stencil the shops use for the same adjustment(that's what it said in the forums).

worked like a charm for me.

Hope it helped somebody. Peace!