Hi,

It has been cold here in Eastern PA.  The last few mornings I have had problems
shifting my manual trans., it gets beeter after it warms up for a while.
  So yesterday I spent the day cleaning up the garage
so I could fit the Van in.  After it sat in the garage for an hour, the shifting
was back to normal.

What should I do to make the tansmission more tolerant to the cold?

I was thinking about changing the fluid by going to one of those one hour
places.  

What is your opinion on the "Jiffy Lube" shops and the qaulity of their
fluids and services, and should I do it myself.

One question that gives you isight into my ignorance:  Is there a dipstick
or some resevoir I can look into to make sure I have enough trans fluid?

Please respond to me directly at jferree@pica.army.mil.

thanks for your time.

Jim Ferree
84 Vanagon
4 speed manual trans