This is a common problem with Vanagons as they age.  The plastic ring that
holds the guts of the shifter together gets brittle with age and breaks.
This allows the shifter to drop down and ruins your day.  I have a shifter
rebuild kit available that replaces the parts in the shifter that you need
to replace (this would be a good idea for PM on any van that has never had
this done).  The kit is on my webstore at http://www.vanagain.com/search.asp
You can search for it using the key word "shifter" or just put in the part
number shifterkit1.  The kit is currently $27.08 (slight price increase to
keep up with VWs price increases).  Hope this helps.

Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
http://www.vanagain.com
Phone: (856)-327-4936
Fax: (856)-327-2242

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of jamie
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 1:05 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: !!!HELP!!! my stick shifter broke and i can't get up!!!!

Okay guys and girls..  I was shifting from second to third and BLAM the
shifter broke in half near the base. luckily I was in second gear and
was able to limp home.  Now the question is.. Where would I find a new
one (I haven't looked yet- but will as soon as I send this)  AND how do
I fix it?  The 'nub' that is sticking out of the floor has TONS of play-
back and forth, side to side and up and down- is this normal?  Do you
think something else broke under there?  Would I have to drop the gas
tank (which I JUST filled up) to get to the area that needs fixin'???
any and ALL  comments, suggestions and physical help appreciated!!!!!
(oh, I'm in kittery, maine.. And perhaps this would be good weekend to
visit your folks dave ;) ;)

Thanks!

jamie

find form design
four market street
portsmouth
new hampshire
0  3  8  0  1
p.  603.431.1487
f.   603.430.0247
www.findformdesign.com