Can't get in gear - now stuck!

[tward]

I wonder if anybody can help. I recently had a new clutch fitted to my 1987 1.6TD. 3 weeks later I was driving along and found it difficult to get in 4th and 5th gear. I pulled over and tried selecting reverse, then 1st etc. The gear selector became completely stuck in what seemed to be 3rd gear. As i tried to move off although it seemed to be in gear the van didn't move at all. It is in a garage at the moment. They have done a one-hour inspection and found nothing untoward. They are talking about either removing the gearbox and doing a 4-hour strip inspection, or replacing it with a reconditioned one. I have no idea what to suggest. They are awaiting a quote from a VW dealer apparently for a gearbox. Any ideas
many thanks to all who reply

[Aidan]

gear linkage disconnect at the gearbox and working only with the selector ball on the end of the selector shaft in the gearbox does ball point down striaght at floor, if it does will it push in and out of the box freeely initially no resitsnace then against spring pressure
will it then pull fully out of the box
fully out of box will it rotate forewards or backwards
if it does go back to centre and push in 7mm does it rotate back and fro ?
if it does back to centre and push in all the way does it rotate back and fro

all of this engine off

if all this checks out it's either a clutch or linkage issue or box has seized due to lack of oil, if suspecting latter drain oil and inspect for lumps of metal

my guess is broken 4th 5th synchro hub in which case you won't be able to change gears at the ball

VW won't be able to supply you with a replacement afaik now, new only certain codes from VW Classic-parts or get yours rebuilt

[tward]

Hi Aidan,
Thanks for your prompt reply. I understand the garage got the gear selector to disengage, and were able to move the selector left and right, front and rear, however I'm not sure what this means technically.
Can you please clarify your last sentence as I'm not sure I understand.
many thanks

[tward]

Hi,
The garage have now inspected the gearbox and have said it's 'cooked' due to no oil being present. As I had a new clutch fitted 2/3 weeks before, and have driven the van for less than 200 miles could this have contributed to there being no gearbox oil through error/incompetence on the part of the garage?
Thanks for reading, replying.........

[Ralf85]

Not easy to come up with an answer. To start with a number of questions:
1) Where do they say the oil has leaked from?
2) Before the clutch was changed, when was the gearbox oil level checked?
3) When was that oil last changed?
I would hope that a qualified mechanic who has changed the clutch, would check the gearbox oil level while they are under the van, but I guess there is no requirement to do so.

[Oldiebut goodie]

What garage says that it is cooked? Some of us in the area may know it and know if it is a garage that knows what it is doing. I wonder how they have decided that there is no oil because we all know how difficult it is to remove the fill plug!

[CovKid]

Also, if the clutch was changed, the selector mechanism would have been unbolted then refitted. I'd check that first. May be loose or stripped at the bracket.

[tward]

Thanks to all for replying above. I will further investigate however I am now looking for a replacement gearbox. The garage have told me the part number is 3H15042X. I have tried 'partfinder' and have had little response. One guy offered a gearbox delivered for £450 including VAT with 90 days warranty. My garage All-Trans-Auto in Colchester have used a similar search and phoned this morning saying £775 plus VAT for the part only, saying 'low mileage' etc. Their source apparently has a 4-Star rating of 5. I just don't know what to do, how much I should be paying, and how reliable the part will be.
Does anybody know a proper VW person/company that might be able to point me in the right direction?

thanks for everybody's support!

[CovKid]

Spoken to John Austin on the Marks Tey roundabout?

Best there is in your neck of the woods and reasonable. I'd definately get a second opinion first.

http://www.johnaustin.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tward]

It was John Austin who fitted my reconditioned engine. They had problems with the company that supplied the recon engine as it had a fault and we were 'pig in the middle',it all ended nastily as John Austin refused to put our vehicle on the road. After a fight including trading standards advice they eventually agreed to fix the problem but said the van wasn't welcome back in their garage, but I was with my normal car. Any other advice re finding a gearbox?
Thanks folks

[CovKid]

Frank's VW bus parts? Walton?