My next task on my punch list for my van is to tighten up the shifter.
It's very vague and sloppy, half the time I even get reverse instead
of first without pushing down on the shifter.

Looking under the van at the underside of the shifter (which is
totally slathered with moly grease) I can see that the piece of sheet
metal that forms the reverse lockout "fence" has a visible deflection
in the middle. I can't tell if this is due to wear (e.g. repeated
forcing into reverse without pushing down enough) or if it is supposed
to be this way.  Also I suspect that all the grease is causing the
shifer to "slip over" the fence too easily.

Should there be a bend/deflection in the reverse lockout "fence"?
Should everything be completely buried in grease?

Allan
--
1991 Vanagon GL