James,
I actually drove around for about a month without a 1st Gear. Main reason
being I had a big trip (2000 km) planned which I absolutely needed Fritz so
I had no chace to repair before-hand.

I ended up pulling the Gearbox out in my fathers garage - with the help of
my best friend [a VW Mechanic].
1st Gear was shot - $600 Australian Dollars. (it's now my $600
'paperweight' sitting on my desk at work)
Various other Bearings, shims, etc amounted to $199 Australian Dollars
Total Repair Cost in parts - $799 Australian Dollars
Labour cost was a case of beer - Funny how a case of beer is one of the
universal currencies!!

We only 'dug' as far as the first section of the Gearbox and didn't worry
about dismantling the rest of the Gearbox, Diff, etc. The Gearbox was
re-built 1 year previously (by previous owner). We took the gamble, as
everything appeared to be in order.

It has performed flawlessly in the 12 months since.

That's my experience.

Good Luck.

David Del Ben
85 1.9 - Carravelle

-----Original Message-----
From:   James Creech [SMTP:jacreech@VISUALLINK.COM]
Sent:   Wednesday, November 08, 2000 3:42 AM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Re: Popping out of 1st gear

Did you end up having to pull the tranny for repairs (I would think so)?
How much $$$?
I'm at step 1, and I would imagine there are others on the list in that
category.
What would you advise I do to keep the repairs simpler and less expensive?

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