My guess would be pilot bearing but the timing of the problem vs the oil
change is strange...I guess the customer is just lucky that it broke in
the shop instead of on the thruway  somewhere....
 I guess that a piece of something may have found its way into and jammed
between the thrust surfaces of a gear...It's possible...
If the trans has to come out for diagnosis...then that's the time to sell
a rebuild....

Daryl of AA Transaxle
Duvall, WA.(Seattle area)
(425) 788-4070
1-877-377-0773 toll free
http://www.aatransaxle.com (web site)

On Thu, 17 Aug 2000 20:45:22 EDT KENWILFY@aol.com writes:
> I had a strange thing happen today.  Customer has a '86 Manual
> Vanagon GL.
> Transmission was grinding on 3rd and 4th and I told him that the
> tranny was
> on the way out.  He insists on my changing the tranny gear oil
> (figures this
> might help it last longer).  I change the tranny oil and now it not
> only
> still grinds in 3rd and 4th, but it doesn't want to go into first
> and I have
> to pull it out of first when I come to a stop or it will either
> stall the
> engine or try to pull the van forward (like the clutch isn't working
> all the
> way).  Any ideas as to what is going on?
>
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> Van-Again
> John 3:16
> http://www.vanagain.com
> Office: (856)-765-1583
> Fax: (856)-327-2242