Pat, it could be the shift linkage that is at the bottom of the shift
lever.  Does the shift-stick go up and down like it shouldn't?  When mine
went, i couldn't shift at all. I was ready to shell out the $$$ for a new
tranny when someone (from this list) said "uhm, dude, it bet it's your
linkage." So it was. The parts are cheap and it is easy to replace. I got
mine from Cammelback VW in AZ (see vanagon.com for details); they give
the best dealer price all around!

Matthew Pollard          "Racing with the wind and flirting with death
Dept. Of Chemistry        So have a cup of coffee and catch your breath"
University of Idaho
www.uidaho.edu/~poll7356

On Wed, 22 Aug 2001, Pat Callaghan wrote:

> Hi all,
>
>      I was driving home in my 82 air-cooled westy.  I came to a light & went
> to downshift & the thing would not go into 2nd. gear.  I finally got it to
> go & then it would not go into 1st. until I was almost stopped.  This got
> worse as I got closer to home.  When I backed into the driveway it did not
> want to go into reverse without grinding.  I played with the shifting in the
> driveway with the same results.  There is plenty of brake fluid in the
> reservoir.  Any ideas?  The Bentley does not seem to be any help.
>
> Pat Callaghan
> 82 Westy
> Portland, OR.
> http://www.users.qwest.net/~patcal
>