Three years ago on a cross-country trip in my 85 Vanagon with 180,000 miles at the time, I too had shifting problems like you're describing.� Turns out it was the slave cylinder.� The evidence was oil pooled up in the rubber boot by the slave cylinder (according to the mechanic I found in Rochester, NY).� List wisdom says to usually change both at the same time....the new master cylinder will blow out the seals in the slave cylinder.� Or something like that.� I'm not a mechanic or guru at all.� Just telling what happened to me.� Anyway, once the slave was replaced ($220 parts and labor as I recall), everything's been fine for 3 years.

Rich
San Diego

--- On Sun, 10/16/11, Jim Lieb <jlieberie@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

From: Jim Lieb <jlieberie@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Transmission woes in PA
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Sunday, October 16, 2011, 5:01 PM

Well, I hope this isn't going to be as bad as I think it might be. I'm
experiencing problems with my 1987 Westy. I had the clutch master cylinder
changed about a week ago because it was leaking. The van has been driving
great all summer until the last couple of days. I noticed that it was
becoming harder and harder to get in to 1st gear. Usually if I'm crawling,
like at a stop light I can ease it in to gear just fine. As it became more
difficult I found that I had to come to a complete stop to get it into gear
and a few times as I drove I had to really floor the clutch for a smooth
shift. On the way home from work I stopped at a stop sign and the shifter
would not go into first at all. I got it into second and proceeded from
there and at the next stop it wouldn't go in 1st or 2nd. I put it in third,
got it going, downshifted to 2nd and drove the last two blocks to my home.
As I pulled up in front of my house and parked it I tried to shift and it
would not go in to any gear and if I tried reverse the gears were still
turning (grind, grind) even with the clutch to the floor. Any ideas or help
before I call the garage?

--
Jim in NW Pa.

Member: PVC Pittsburgh Vanagon Club
1987 Vanagon Westfalia Camper
Member: Toyota Land Cruiser Association #15764
1982 FJ40
2007 FJ Cruiser