Cannot select 1st or 2nd gear

[Mikevan10]

1984 GL 4 speed manual

Cannot shift into 1st or 2nd. Can get reverse, 3rd and 4th

[fxr]

To get going, you probably just need to re-align the shifter rod where it is joined half-way along. However, needing to do this means some other parts are worn - usually it's the ball'n'socket on the transmission shift lever, but the whole train could probably do with a going-over. Plenty of detailed posts on here, most easily accessible via the FAQ.
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[Zeitgeist 13]

I just went through this same issue. Go Westy has a decent walk-through of the procedures needed to check your shift linkage for proper orientation on their site. But, in addition to that, I found that the shift "cup" at the transmission end of the linkage had significant slop which prevented the rod from pushing the internal linkage inward enough to engage first and second. I replaced the cup and then re-adjusted the linkage (a maddeningly ridiculous number of times). The slop in the cup was due to a hogging out of the roll pin hole that secures it to the shaft. I had a spare cup on hand, but GW and others carry new versions.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[Mikevan10]

Thanks for the prompt responses!

I did do a quick inspection of the front (bottom of shift lever) and rear (at lever that connects to the shift rod) joints and neither seemed horrible. I will check more closely with your comments in mind.

However, I had what I remember to be the same exact problem not long after I obtained this vehicle back in 1991 and the problem was a failed part inside of the gearbox.

[ALIKA T3]

With new components, it takes 2 seconds to adjust the shifter on a 091/1 linkage.

Put the transmission in neutral.

Loosen the clamp by the U joint near the sliding door area/ gas tank.Make sure it can spin one into another freely with no effort.
Put the shifter in the cabin in neutral, make sure it is half way between forward and backward movement ( depth of the shifter rod basically)
: to do so perfectly, take your lever to the almost far left, so you feel you`re in between the tabs in the shifter box and your lever cannot go forward or backward, you`ll feel it bumping in both directions, put it in the middle of what you feel. Gently let it go back to the right on a parallele motion if it wants to, if not leave it alone.

Go under the van, push with your hand on the rear section shifter rod next to the clamp with your hand towards passenger side: you will feel and hear the cabin shifter move and self align in a left to right parallele motion of where you left it, basically your shifter in the cab is moving right, so its base is moving left under the floor in the box til it cannot go any further.
I used to do that with a bungee cord attached to the passenger side door handle, but it tends to not pull well aligned, or ask your copilot/progeniture/dog/cat/lama/wife/GF to do it for you, but it works very well alone too.
Tighten your clamp while holding that position FIRMLY, I use a flat closed end wrench on top and can keep pushing with that hand and a battery impact driver in the other hand, you`re done the first time. Money back garranty

Save this, cite me, spread the word, bc it works. Adjusting original shifters is a super easy job that needs to be demystified.
_________________
Silicone Steering Boots and 930 Cv boots for sale in the classifieds.
Syncro transmission upgrade parts in the Classifieds.
Subaru EJ22+UN1 5 speed transmission
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=416343
Syncro http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...num+gadget

[Mikevan10]

Thanks again! I'll give that procedure a go.

I think my '84 has the 091 trans if that makes difference.

Mike

[Zeitgeist 13]

Your van most likely has an 091/1 trans. The 091 trans uses a very different shift rod assembly.

091/1 ≠ 091
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[Mikevan10]

I'll look at the marking on the housing but Bentley indicates that the 091/1 is for the 2.1 liter, starting in 1986. I have the 1.9 l.

[Zeitgeist 13]

The 091/1 started in mid-'83 with the introduction of the 1.9 WBX.
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[IdahoDoug]

Hey, before we take this too far down a road without key information - what happened? I mean to say adjusting the center joint on the shifter rod would be called for if you just put new shifter parts in it and its sitting in your garage.

But if you tell us you've been happily driving it for 17 years and know the shifting well and suddenly from yesterday to today you cannot find 1-2, that is a horse of a different color.

So, how about you tell us what happened before we start telling you what to replace, disconnect and the like?

Doug
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[Mikevan10]

It's pretty much like Doug described it - I have been happily driving this van for many years (although not very much in the last few years), knowing the shifting well and all of a sudden I cannot get 1st or 2nd. I have done no work on the trans or the shift linkage in many many years. Like I mentioned before, this is pretty much what I remember happening back in about 1991 and at that time I had to go inside the transmission and replace what I believe was a relay lever. Unfortunately I did not make a good record of what part I replaced or the work sequence at the time and my memory is not what it used to be....

I have not had a chance to do any more investigation or try any of the above shift linkage suggestions, by the way.

[Ahwahnee]

[Chris Beebe]

I'm facing the same challenge - no 1st or 2nd gear. 3rd, 4th and R never quit. I reset to the shifter to the 3-4 gate, as instructed, still no 1st or 2nd gear. Rotated the shaft the minimum and can goes backwards in 1st and 2nd.
I'm thinking I can get home if I can pull one of those 180s from reverse like in the cop shows, but hoping there's a less criminal way to make sense of this.
Played with it about 10 times now.
Insights?
Thanks!

[Chris Beebe]

Oh yeah - it's a 91/1, at 7:18 on Saturday night in suburbia.

[Ahwahnee]

[levi]

Could be the right side tab fell off of the shift ears that are located in the housing directly below, underneath the van.

Before making any adjustments I'd strongly suggest looking for what has likely broken.
My money goes to the input ball lever which ahwahnee noted above.

If you make adjustments to the linkage first and then find its a broken part, you're likely to find the linkage out of adjustment once you replace the part.
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[Ride-Fly]

Hi guys. As I’m reading through this thread, I was wondering if it isn’t a clutch issue. My van is starting to have difficulty getting into 1st gear. Don’t have a problem getting into 2nd. I assumed I needed a clutch job and was thinking of tackling it myself- I’m about to order a new master and slave clutch cylinder from Bus Depot. Now I’m not sure if that’s my problem or a problem within the transmission. How can I tell if it’s a clutch, linkage or transmission issue? TIA!

[levi]

Check your brake fluid level under the dash cover.
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[elizer]

Also check for any leaks at the slave. I had a leak that made shifting into gear difficult then eventually total failure. Can you shift through the gears with the van off clutch pedal out?

Edit. This eventually applied to all gears not just 1st and 2nd.

[jimf909]