In a message dated 8/30/00 8:29:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time, flubach@HOME.COM
writes:

<< I was happily driving along last night when I couldn't get it out of third
 gear.  Try as I might, I wouldn't go into the "real" neutral.  It seems to
 go into a "phantom" neutral that slightly grinds when I let out the clutch..
 scarey.

 I've tried to manually move the shaft on the tranny but couldn't move it
 much more than how I could inside the van.
  >>

sounds like your 3/4 gear slider hub has the notorius crack in it.  happens
to all vanagon wbx 4 speeds.  time for a rebuild, your trans is most likely
shot.
chris