This is very common. When i got a smog test in CA the "mechanic" broke
mine- i got a free smog test out of it yet it cost me about 50$ for the
parts. These parts are easy to get (my dealer had them in stock), but
first you need to look at a service manual (bentley) and identify the
parts and have him order them from a dealer or the bus depot.   These
parts are what goes inside the shifter housing which is acccessable from
the inside of the bus and under the black shift boot.   He plainly didn;t
know that the heck he was doing and forced the situation.  Tell him you
would like your bus back in the same working order it was before you gave
it to him and that this part breaks when you force it into reverse!
Good luck.  If you search the archives you'll find lots of stories about
this same problem!
-Matthew

Matthew Pollard             http://www.uidaho.edu/~poll7356
Dept. of Chemistry               http://www.chem.uidaho.edu
University of Idaho                   http://www.uidaho.edu

On Mon, 9 Oct 2000, - Lauren Pelzer wrote:

> I put my van in a shop this morning to get a starter installed.  In the
> process of driving the van the 8 feet from the parking space to the bay, the
> mechanic broke something in my shifter.  He said when he pushed it down to
> put it in reverse "it stuck down".  So now, I have to pull the shifter up to
> put it in gear, and it is very loose.  Also, it's hard to tell if I have it
> in first or reverse...it's got to be a hazard to drive this way.
>
> Anyway, the manager said it was a little plastic part that broke.  He said
> that it didn't look like a "fresh" break - nevertheless, he called "all over
> the place" looking for this little plastic part but couldn't find it.   He
> said, in the cockiest tone he could muster "If you can get the part, I'll put
> it in for you...".  I told him (with equal attitude) to give me that in
> writing, because "I WILL get the part"....so, I'm really hoping someone out
> there knows what I'm talking about and has one of these plastic doo dads
> laying around that they'd be willing to sell...!?
>
> Thanks in advance for your assistance!!
> -Lauren
>
>
>
>
>
>          ___________
>         ||E[__] [__]|[_]\\
>         | =======| -   ||
> * * *  =( o )--------( o )=p
>      '85
>