You do not mention the situation with your hydraulics - is there any leakage
at the master or slave cylinders?  Any fluid missing?  Are you *sure* that
pumping really works?

The reason I ask is that I experienced something very similar recently and
it turned out to be a combination of things, but primarily a failed pilot
bushing.  Since we had to pull the trans to replace the pilot bushing, I had
it sent to Weddle for a "check-up".  Well, needless to say I now have a
rebuilt transmission (thanks Chris) and I was astounded that the thing
shifted at all based on the condition of the old pieces.  The housing for
G-gear/reverse was totally cracked and a couple of bushing areas were
ovalized.

While I had the trans out I went ahead and put in a new Bosch starter to
boot, since it is such a PITA to get to normally, and it had about 70k on
it.

-Brent

>From: van man <vannman99@yahoo.com>
>To: Syncro@yahoogroups.com
>CC: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: [Syncro] Syncro Tranny Problem
>Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2002 09:30:30 -0800 (PST)
>
>Hi,
>
>I am experiencing some very disturbing tranny probs in
>the 87 syncro.  Over the past couple months there have
>been a few sporadic instances of it being hard to
>shift into first or reverse, but a double pump on the
>clutch always seems to work (strange - when its
>raining, the shifting is always smooth as silk -
>almost to easy).
>
>Two days ago things got really bad without any real
>warning or escalation from the above mentioned
>symptoms.  I cant even shift into low, reverse is very
>hard, and first is difficult.  Once in reverse, she
>starts clanking and I have to keep the clutch way down
>or it pops out.  First starts bucking like mad if im
>not going fast enough, and will pop out of gear as
>well.  Also low power of the go, especially on a hill,
>have to keep clutch way depressed (like me).
>
>This frustates the hell out of me because when I
>bought the van about five years ago, it had a brand
>new (rebuilt) tranny installed from German Transaxel.
>in 98, the tranny failed AGAIN and was still under
>warrenty so I had it replaced, along with a new
>clutch.  Ive only driven 32k miles on this sick
>tranny....
>
>Any advice?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Jeff
>
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Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy
Santa Barbara, CA

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