>Date:    Sun, 6 Jan 2002 13:59:48 EST
>From:    JordanVw@AOL.COM
>Subject: Re: Grinding into Secong Gear when Cold
>
>In a message dated 1/6/02 1:42:50 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>bestergaard@SHAW.CA writes:
>
>
>> When I just jump in and go I get a mean grinding sound going from 1st gear
>> to 2nd gear until the van gets warmed up.  After the temperature needle
>> gets moving (~5min of driving) the grinding goes away and it also feels
>> smoother shifting into other gears.  Any ideas about what is causing the
>> grinding?
>>
>>
>
>2nd gear syncroniser is worn...common prob in all manual trans vw's..
>nothing but a rebuild will cure it.
>chris

Chris:

I had a similar problem with my 1983 Vanagon. Mine was so bad that it was
virtually impossible to shift into 2nd gear on a cold day when the
transmission was cold. Even double clutching didn't help. I was resorting
to the expedient of backing up a hill next to my house, and starting out
in second gear with a rolling start. By the time I had driven a quarter
of a mile or so, it shifted OK.

A friend who is an Amsoil dealer suggested I try their synthetic gear
oil. He also reminded me that the Vanagon transmission needs gear oil
with a "GL-4" specification. He said that using gear lube with the the
correct "GL" specification is particularly important for the synchromesh
to work properly. I put in the lubricant he provided and the improvement
was tremendous. I can't say it is 100% since I still have to shift slowly
into 2nd when the transmission is really cold, but other than that it
works well.

At any rate, this might let you put off transmission repairs for a few
years. It's been about 4 years and 20,000 miles since I put in the Amsoil
and the problem hasn't come back yet.

Regards,
adh