Hi all,

My mates kombi lost all of its gears ... Turned out to be the gear shift coupling had fallen apart, replaced it along with all other shift bushes - it actually now has an "H" pattern! Yay

Have adjust the the shift plate ( tabs up and narrow side to passenger side)
1st gear is not there... Can get 2,3,4 - it goes into where 1st should be, release the clutch... Nothing. If I push the gear stick and hold it where 1st should be it feels like it's almost engaging a gear and you can hear and feel gear noise like it two gears lightly grinding against each other?? also just moving forward and backward whilst adjust the gears it kind of felt like the gearbox had locked up??

Is it gearbox overhaul time ??

I am in Lonsdale, Adelaide

Cheers for all advice.

what happens if you disconnect the linkage at the box and push the selector shaft into 1st by hand? Obviously dont start it with the clutch out assuming it works.

That will isolate whether its linkage problem in the bus or an actual problem internally in the box.

Ok finally got around to disconnecting the linkage at the box... selected 1st... nothing.. can select and engage all other gears - guess that means box out? Any advice on who to see in Adelaide for getting the box reco'ed ??

yep, sounds like the box shit it self.

Maybe try a 2nd had box first?

When my squareback box crapped out, also 1st gear, i just bought a 2nd hand box and it was great.

I took apart the old box, its was a mess inside. Like someones legs after standing on a landmine.

Did it have all gears before the coupling fell apart? If so, then it has to be the shift plate adjustment. Dave

Vlad - yes it looks that way :-(

Dave - the owner of the kombi is a mate of mine... he was having gear selection problems at the start.. the coupling was just a part of the overall problem... I disconnected the coupling and put it into gear with a vice grip to where 1st should be.... nothing ... so unfortunately not the adjust plate as this was out of the equation with that test :-(

Have made some phone calls .. approx up to $2,500 to reco the box including all labor to remove and refit

damn thats expensive.

That's actually a very reasonable price to rebuild a 'box including R&R. Most of the 2nd hand ones that come up will be in unknown condition anyway and could require a rebuild on top of the purchase price. Good second hand 091 box's don't come cheap.