There are two things you can do. Lubricate your shift linkage and change
your transmission gear oil and replace it with Synthetic gear oil.

I just lubricated and adjusted my shift linkage on my van. This helped a
lot. I also changed my transmission gear oil and replaced it with Red Line
MT 90. This made an even more positive improvement. I'm glad I changed my
tranny oil as it was filthy.

Try both these things first. And crawl under there to inspect your shift
linkage. And while you are under there check all the nuts and bolts you see
to make sure everything is tight. My clutch was so loose a week after I
bought my van that the bolts actually popped right out and I could not shift
at all. I freaked out but it took only 5 minutes for my mechanic to fix.
(Fortunately, I had an appointment that day to do other needed work revealed
by a buyers diagnostic I had done.)

I hope it is nothing more serious. Please let us know the results of what
you do. You might just be low on gear oil and also dirty to boot. Let's hope
that is your only problem.

William Polowniak
1989 Vanagon GL
1988 Mercedes 300 SE

> Hey guys,
>
> Now that I have had my Syncro for a couple weeks and am getting to know it
a bit better I have a couple questions.
>
> 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?
>
> I went and sprung for a set of Yokohama Super Digger 5 tires (195/75/R14).
They seems really nice and hook up well in the snow.  I was wanting the
Nokian tires but they were nowhere to be found locally.  Anyone else use
these tires...I don't see them on the list of recommended tires but the
specs seem alright.
>
> regards,
> Brad
> 88 Syncro