Well.......
If it's anything like mine:
Step 1 - My 5-Speed started of by popping out of 1st Gear every now & then.
Step 2 - Then, 1st Gear started making a 'howling' noise.
Step 3 - Then, it got to the pioint, where it didn't want to sty in 1st
Gear, and I had to hold it in with the Gear stick
Step 4 - Driving over a friends place - Bang - 1st Gear departed this life.

What had ahppened was the pinion Bearing [I think it was collapsing] and
1st Gear wasn't really meshing properly. After it had collapsed, I just
damaged the Syncromesh on the Gear trying to keep it in Gear and thatwas
the part (1st Gear) that cost $$$$ to replace. The rest of the bearings etc
were minor in comparison.

Motto of story - Don't let it go past Step 2 as above.

David Del Ben
85 1.9-Carravelle

-----Original Message-----
From:   Hooper, Mark [SMTP:HOOPERM@CI.CHARLESTON.SC.US]
Sent:   Tuesday, November 07, 2000 2:39 AM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Popping out of 1st gear

I have a problem with first gear popping out prematurely. It  happens
when I have to stay in first gear longer than usual( example: driveway
to stop sign). What could be the culprit behind this.

Mark Hooper
83.5 & 87 Westies
Charleston SC

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