Hi everybody-

I'm in Idaho Falls on my way to Florida from California.  I'm afraid the
manual transmission on my 89 Wolfsburg may be on its way out.

Though it comes and goes, it's getting hard to put the van in gear.
Sometimes I have to force it a little bit, especially in reverse.  However,
so far I can always get it into gear and I haven't felt anything funny
while I'm driving.  I was hoping that I just had a leak, but I checked the
fluid and it is fine.

I'm wondering if anybody has any advice or experience with this sort of
thing.  How long does it take typically before I am completely dead in the
water?  Is there something I can do to nurse the transmission so that it
will last longer?

I have about 140,000 miles on the van, so I know it's due for a new
transmission.  I'm just hoping I can make it another 2700 miles before I
have to deal with it.  Is this realistic?

If the transmission is going, will pushing it make the repair more
expensive in the long run?

One final question.  If I get stuck in some small town trying to deal with
it, what should I expect to pay?  Is this something I can trust to a
regular transmission shop, or should I hold out for somebody with Vanagon
experience?

Alternatively, does anybody know how to stretch one tank of gas 2700 miles
so that I can just get it into fourth and keep going?

Thanks for any help.  I'm off the list right now, so please reply pmail.

Mark Schrope

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Mark Schrope
831-458-9363 (Home)
831-459-5139 (Office)
513 Koshland Way
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
mschrope@nasw.org
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