Joy:
    I think it is the front pinion bearing..
    Does it jump out when you let up on the throttle, i.e., coast? I had
one that did that, for a couple of years. Also, when drivng in 2nd or
3rd, I could hear a litlle bearing noise, especially when the noise was
reflected back into the open window. This doesn't happen so often that
you drive next to a solid barrier on your LEFT. You night not hear this
noise.
I replace the tranny with another. I'll pull it apart and fix it
sometime, but not till the day after I need it!
It will probably get worse. take it easy in the lower gears: no off
roading, be careful if you get stuck.
Hey, you are not that far from Dennis Haynes!
Al Brase

Joy Hecht wrote:

>Hmm, Warren's compliments made me think I should ask you a question too,
>Dennis!  Or anyone else, of course.
>
>My transmission works, but I think it's on its way out.  It won't stay in
>first gear.  I put it in first, start driving, and then within fifty feet or
>so it usually slips out of first into neutral.  By then I can usually shift
>into second, so this is not a problem.  And it's been doing it pretty much
>as long as I've had the van and doesn't seem to be getting worse.  I don't
>have trouble with 2nd through 4th.
>
>Is this the symptom when transmissions fail? I've never had a car whose
>transmission failed.  Could it keep doing this for decades and I wouldn't
>have to replace the tranny?
>
>Today I was driving around Philadelphia in snow and ice.  Traffic was moving
>around 10 mph, stopping all the time.  I had a lot of trouble getting
>Matilda started - I'd put her in first and she just wouldn't move.  If I
>could get her in second she'd move a bit better, but sometimes I'd be
>sitting there when the light changed green just waving my hands to urge her
>on through the intersection.  I think she was sliding on the ice, though
>mostly not enough that I could see or feel it.  It was really cold out
>(okay, not by Canadian standards!).  Do dicey transmissions behave worse in
>snow and ice?  Or could my problems starting up once I'd stopped simply have
>been because I was sliding more than I realized?
>
>
>
>Joy
>
>
>
>****************************************************************
>Joy Hecht
>and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon
>
>For musings about life and the vanadventures:
>http://users.rcn.com/jhecht/gypsy
>
>****************************************************************
>:::-----Original Message-----
>:::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
>:::Of Warren Lail
>:::Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 8:43 PM
>:::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>:::Subject: Re: out comes the tranny (again)
>:::
>:::Thanks Dennis.  I will bring this up with my tranny guy next week when I
>:::return the tranny for the third time.
>:::I had a feeling that the movement of the shifter was telling me something
>:::that was probably related to the
>:::growling.
>:::
>:::I truly appreciate your comments.  How in the world did you come to know
>:::so much about Vanagons?
>:::Are you a factory-trained technician?  You must be, or you must be a
>:::factory Trainer.  You are the authority
>:::I look to on the list, bar none.  Thanks for being out there and for
>:::being so helpful.
>:::
>:::Warren
>:::
>:::----- Original Message -----
>:::From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@optonline.net>
>:::Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 7:22 pm
>:::Subject: RE: out comes the tranny (again)
>:::
>:::> The shifter moving that much in third indicates the gear carrier
>:::> housingis shot. The thrust load is actually pushing the input shaft
>:::> as you
>:::> apply power. It is probably doing it in 4th also but it will not be as
>:::> noticeable as the overdrive ratio doesn't push as hard. This is a
>:::> commonproblem not noticed by many tranny repair folks. This also
>:::> explains the
>:::> growls.
>:::>
>:::> Dennis
>
>
>