My shifter had a bind in it several months ago.  when I crawled under the
van, there was a huge dent in the metal spare tire carrier and the spare
tire was pressing on the shift rod.  Not likely your problem, but one of
the stranger issues I 've had with the van since I dodn't remember running
over anything that would make that big of a dent in the carrier.

DM&FS

At 04:27 PM 2/27/2006, Wil Haslup wrote:

>Recent discussions of shift issues must have infected me and my '80
>remotely...
>
>; )
>
>I've had some slop in my shift for a short while but with no significant
>difficulty in finding gears.
>
>Today I backed out of my drive, shifted normally through three or four
>lights and a roundabout and had trouble down shifting into second after
>that...struggled to get down and then back into third...was able to keep
>it in third and not shift for several miles until I reached my
>destination.  On turning into my friends drive I couldn't get into
>first...managed to stall...put it into first while off and still,
>started and moved up their drive to park.  Sitting still then I had
>difficulty finding any gear.
>
> From net research I'm thinking the nylon inerts of my shifter are
>trashed...
>
>My understanding and observation is I can probably get at the problem
>from the shifter by removing the bolts, or from underneath after
>dropping the spare...can remove the guts, rebuild and reinstall.  Is
>this right?
>
>Rebuild kits don't seem to be too available...Bus Depot shows one for a
>bit less than $100 but I'm uncertain if this is for the actual shifter
>or the linkage from there on.
>
>
>
>--
>
>Wil
>
>"It's the same things your whole life. "Clean up your room!", "Stand up
>straight!", "Pick up your feet!", "Take it like a man!", "Be nice to
>your sister!", "Don't mix beer and wine, ever!". Oh yeah, "Don't drive
>on the railroad track!"
>- Phil from "Groundhog Day" (1993)
>
>
>
>--
>No virus found in this incoming message.
>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 268.1.0/269 - Release Date: 2/24/2006

--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 268.1.0/269 - Release Date: 2/24/2006