Hey... my kombi just suddenly decided not to select 1st or 2nd properly... it was fine at one set of lights, and not at the next. It feels like it might be in the shifter at the front of the van, not back at the gearbox... any ideas as to what might've happened?

yeah where the gear shift lever goes thru the cab floor you will see a bracket with 2 bolts and i would say that the plate has moved thus not qllowing selection of certain gears. Just loosen bolts move plate then retighten and hopefully you will fix problem. not sure which way to move plate though

cool... will give it a try... thanks

From Haynes manual:

"When the lever is in second gear position it should be exactly vertical with the cranked upper section inclined at about 30 degrees to the rear."

"Adjustments can be made to the gear lever position by slackening the two bolts in the mounting bracket at its base. Engage second gear first and then loosen the bolts. Depress the clutch pedal and then align the lever into the correct position. Under the bracket there is a stop plate (for reverse gear). Push this to the left until it touches the shoulder of the lever but does not move the lever. Tighten the mounting bolts. Move the lever to first gear. The line of movement should be exactly longitudinal, without any tendency to move diagonally. If there is any diagonal movement loosen the bolts again and turn the stop plate a little to correct it. Later models have lugs on the stop plate to avoid this misalignment possibility."

hth

Has the clutch engagement point changed? Your clutch cable might have stretched and is on its last legs making 1st gear really hard to get when stationary but not so hard when rolling forward slowly....

if not that then its shifter adjustment... and this is how its adjusted...

http://www.acvw.com/article.asp?DetailID=38 

shouldnt take more than 5 mins, make your u take the bus for a spin when ur done so you dont get up late to go to work and dont have time to re adjust when you cant find 1st or second at all.

good luck!

took it too the mechanics... had three problems... was out of adjustment at the front plate, cos the linkage shaft was bent and seized in the bushes, and as a result the coupling at the back of the car was worn and wasn't working properly... phew... simple thing to fix but a bastard to work out when its everything thats broken hehehe