chris

my vote is that you have a bad 3-4 gear slider hub in the transmission.
its a well known failure from the factory.  sorry to be the possible
bearer of bad news :(.

jonathan

On Wed, 3 Nov 2004, Chris wrote:

> I'm going to start going through the archives but this is kind of an
> urgent nature so I'm going to ask in advance so I hope you all don't
> mind too much.
> Quick run down:
> Took another trip from Nashville to Atlanta without incident. On my
> last day there I drove to the gas station and filled up ( did not top
> off ), then my passenger remembered something she forgot and we drove a
> couple of miles back to the house and I parked but stayed at idle. I
> had a very very strong odor of gasoline. I got out of the van and
> started sniffing, it was definately coming from the front of the van
> near the gas tank and was stronger on the drivers side. I couldn't find
> a leak and decided to head on out anyway.
>
> Then going up to a stoplight I trying to downshift into 3rd as normal
> and the shifter stuck. Once I stopped I let go of the clutch and killed
> the engine ( to keep this story as short as possible I won't say why
> but I have reason based on another vehicle I drive ). The van would not
> start. All electrical was fine and it turned over but wouldn't fire.
>
> I pushed the van off to the side and checked things out for a few
> minutes and then it started right up again. I again went on my way and
> had a mechanic check it out, he found nothing. I came back to Nashville
> that night without a problem.
>
> Final part of the story.... as I've been driving around town I
> continued to have trouble with downshifting from 4th to 3rd but found
> that if I lifted up as I shifted it would go into gear. I was figuring
> a faulty lockout mechanism.
>
> Well tonight in the rainy dark at an intersection it finally bit the
> dust. Luckily I figured out its stuck in 4th and was able to coax it
> across the intersection with high rpms and clutch feathering. I
> unbolted the plate to try to get another look at it and can't get the
> plate past the ball on the shifter but it does not feel like the stick
> is catching anything at all now... just loose.
>
> I need help. I don't know a mechanic around here that really knows
> Vanagons and I have no Bentley. I have limited access to tools and
> could not drop the gas tank if I needed to. I'm also dead broke and
> have a very good interview next week for a job in which I need my van
> to be working or I won't get it.
>
> I hate to sound desperate but I am and ANY advise would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
> 85 GL
> Hendersonville, TN USA
>
>
>