Either your clutch is not fully releasing, or if the problem is only 3rd
gear, you are probably dealing with a cracked 3-4 slider hub.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Jason Kirk
Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 3:34 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: manual transmission woes

I have an 87 with manual transmission that has trouble shifting into 3rd
gear. It seems not to want to go all the way into gear and will only go
if I release the clutch and then depress it again. Sometimes I can give
it will go in if I continue to put pressure on the gearshift lever while
I slowly release the clutch. I also get a grinding noise when I shift
into reverse on occasion. Awhile back someone suggested loosening the
bolts where the shift lever was bolted to the floor and "hitting" it
slightly before tightening the bolts again. Is this a good solution and
is it applicable to my problem?