Don Erbel is having some transaxle difficulty.....

<<My 1990 Multivan Vanagon grinds when shifting
      into 3rd gear. >>

Don,

What you maybe feeling with the grinding noise is
the beginning of the dreaded "Vanagon 3rd/4th gear
clutch hub cracking syndrome".  What happens there
is that the orginal VW factory design is prone to
stress cracks and will allow the hub to flex back and
forth.  This hub is what transmits power from the gear
through the mainshaft and on to the diff and so on.
The updated version of this hub eliminates this
cracking problem (at least in my experience in
rebuilding the 091-1 Waterboxer gearboxes) and I
always install a new one in my rebuilds no matter
how good the old one looks.  If this is the case with
your gearbox, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was
with the vintage and mileage you have, then you
need to start saving for the upcoming rebuilt trans
that your MultiVan is going to require- there is no
other way around this problem.

Please note the useage of the words *Maybe* and
*If* in the above paragraph.  I'm not physic and there
could be some other reason for your problem.  But
I doubt it!

Todd Hill
VolksWerks Transaxles
Olympia, WA