try it with the engine off..
pushing the clutch down, then letting it up.

it could be either clutch system, or shift linkage. More likely shift
linkage actually.

sure makes me think of a dry mechanism in the clutch release mechanism.
I have seen ..
chronically ( ! ) that evident 'no one' knows to lube moving clutch
mechanism parts !
I lube about 35 spots between the clutch pedal and the throw out bearing and
I'm only exaggerating a little.

I had one so bad lately ..this is the only time I have ever seen this in
about a thousand vanagons  ...
it was so dry and rust where the ball on the clutch lever on the side of the
trans sits in the concave hole in the bottom of the clutch slave pushrod ...
that the ball actually broke off the lever, and was stuck permanently  in
the bottom of the clutch slave push rod.

and of course that would make the clutch unable to release..
It's not hard to imagine a shop said they needed an entire 600 dollar or
more clutch job,  so they owner just bailed on the vanagon.
man it's sad to see them die ...
they are not hard to take care of properly at all really.

have someone lay under the rear while you push the clutch pedal up and
down..
also listen around the clutch pedal area.

and also ..evidently no one knows to lube shift linkage..
check that carefully under the van.
the 82 shift linkage is a bit dorky .......that 'guide post' bolted to the
trans ..often the bushing in there is gone..resulting in metal-to-metal
contact..
now if someone would just invest 2.01 seconds in shooting in there with some
good spray lube ......
and every part of the shift linkage.

there is one bushing that's a real problem on that year van. There is a tab
of metal hanging down above the fuel tank ...there's a plastic bushing in it
..the shift rod rides in it.
the bushing falls out ..
the shift rod is rubbing bare metal-to-metal there.  And it squeaks. (
isolate whether it's shift linkage or clutch system of course ) .

the real repair is gas tank out , and replace that I think unobtainable
bushing or make one ..
or put the remains of what's there back in place.
I recently fixed one without removing the fuel tank.
it was very hard to do.
I lowered the left side of the tank a bit ...and then ended up removing the
right tank-holding thing too..
I could just get one arm and a hand in there.
I make a half-round bushing out of PVC pipe....
shaped it very carefully so it would engage in the metal tab ..and shift rod
ride on it, well lubed.

that's likely it.
Scott
www.turbovans.com

Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kendra Calhoun" <kendracalhoun@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, January 02, 2012 1:16 PM
Subject: Re: new 82 vanagon L

> Thanks! Electronic Leash...haha...
> The squeak only started when the temperature dropped up here in Chicago.
> It
> squeaks when shifting up from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. I hear it coming
> from underneath somewhere... I hope it just needs fluids or oil or
> something easy like that!
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jan 2, 2012 at 3:06 PM, BenT Syncro <syncro@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Welcome to the group, Kendra.
>>
>> You may need to be more specific about that "squeak".
>>
>> sent from my electronic leash
>>
>> On Jan 2, 2012, at 12:31 PM, Kendra Calhoun <kendracalhoun@GMAIL.COM>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > hi everyone, glad to be a part of this very active list! i just bought
>> > an
>> > 82 vanagon L to take my band on tour across and around the country. so
>> far
>> > it runs great with the exception of a bit of squeaking while changing
>> > gears. looking forward to learning how to work on it. think i should
>> start
>> > with getting the manual? happy new year everyone!
>>