I have longstanding history of random transmission issues. Here's what's up
this time.

While driving today, I came to a stop light and put it in neutral. When I
went to get going again it simply would not go into first (or second gear).
Several tries and some rev matching of the engine finally got it and it ran
fine for maybe 40 shifts. Then it did it again, won't go into any gear.
That seems to me like it's a clutch related problem.
So, I went and bled the clutch. It seems to have bled fine. There wan't
really any air in there but the fluid coming out was shockingly dark.

There is fluid in the transmission, i tired to add some and sure enough,
it's full up (with good clean fluid, only a year or so old).

It seems to come and go pretty randomly.

I have tried pumping the clutch when it does it and can't really tell if
this makes a difference or not. I have noticed though that When it does it,
if I shut the engine off I can put it into a gear then fire the engine
right back up just fine in gear (clutch in) and then it will work and shift
as needed. This seems to conflict in my mind with the idea that the clutch
is bad, or else it would have lurched when cranking in gear right?

Any thoughts?
This is an '85 vanagon GL that I turned into a Westfalia years ago, then
recently turned back into a 7 passanger. It has a BOSTIG zetec engine and
recently had a break line fail to rust (making me think a clutch line could
have started leaking...).

-Craig
'85GL WESTY-7passanger
ZETEC in the back
'87 SUNROOF Syncro Westfalia
'90 GL