Van Spec:
1993 Volkswagen T4 (Eurovan)
Mileage: 170k miles
Engine 2.5ltr, petrol
Transmission: Automatic
My location: Abuja

Background: The van was purchased just this week from Berger by a brother of mine whom I thought could do a detailed inspection, purchase, and deliver to me in Abuja. Apparently, he got a very clean van, too clean for its age which I like. However the van runs on only 1 gear and he said he didn't realize it until he had moved very far from Lagos and this was the following day after purchase. The bus came to Abuja without any issue on the way. The van looks good and I drove it today. Surprisingly I seem to want to keep it hoping the issue can be fixed. I have called the dealer and he said we will talk tomorrow as he sounded so surprised that a van could get to Abuja in good time and yet I am claiming the gear is faulty.

My observation: It appears the gear is permanently stuck in 3 though I may be wrong. There are no shift points. It idles at around 750rpm and takes off sluggishly from 2500rpm. It does not achieve 100-110km/hr until around 5000rpm which is just below the redline. Even though the top speed is 220km/hr, any attempt to go beyond 120km/hr will redline the engine.

I took the engine to a Volkswagen mechanic who observed that the connectors on a particular gear cable was dirty and he cleaned it with a carburetor cleaner and reconnected it. After a test drive, the transmission shifted for the first time but very roughly. Then it returned back to the 1 gear system from rest. The transmission oil sump showed its been opened not too long ago and the oil looks clean though I am not sure of what brand/type in there. I am not sure if starting from oil change will pay off. There are tons of information on T4 forum unfortunately hours of research has not paid off for me.

Also the power steering is not as light as I expected, is this normal please?

Any suggestions on what to do or any reputable VW mechanic (not Kazeem) in Abuja?

I plan to do a scan tomorrow when my I get back my scanner. Not sure of the location of the scan scan port and if it OBD II compliant.

Fixed:
Van Spec:
1993 Volkswagen T4 (Eurovan)
Mileage: 170k miles
Engine 2.5ltr, petrol
Transmission: Automatic
My location: Abuja

Background: The van was purchased just this week from Berger by a brother of mine whom I thought could do a detailed inspection, purchase, and deliver to me in Abuja. Apparently, he got a very clean van, too clean for its age which I like. However the van runs on only 1 gear and he said he didn't realize it until he had moved very far from Lagos and this was the following day after purchase. The bus came to Abuja without any issue on the way. The van looks good and I drove it today. Surprisingly I seem to want to keep it hoping the issue can be fixed. I have called the dealer and he said we will talk tomorrow as he sounded so surprised that a van could get to Abuja in good time and yet I am claiming the gear is faulty.

My observation: It appears the gear is permanently stuck in 3 though I may be wrong. There are no shift points. It idles at around 750rpm and takes off sluggishly from 2500rpm. It does not achieve 100-110km/hr until around 5000rpm which is just below the redline. Even though the top speed is 220km/hr, any attempt to go beyond 120km/hr will redline the engine.

I took the engine to a Volkswagen mechanic who observed that the connectors on a particular gear cable was dirty and he cleaned it with a carburetor cleaner and reconnected it. After a test drive, the transmission shifted for the first time but very roughly. Then it returned back to the 1 gear system from rest. The transmission oil sump showed its been opened not too long ago and the oil looks clean though I am not sure of what brand/type in there. I am not sure if starting from oil change will pay off. There are tons of information on T4 forum unfortunately hours of research has not paid off for me.

Also the power steering is not as light as I expected, is this normal please?

Any suggestions on what to do or any reputable VW mechanic (not Kazeem) in Abuja?

Am sorry that u didn't hear from me. The truth is am only aware that u sent me a msg, but unable to access the msg talk less knowing the content. if u are on bbm u can tell me so that we chat.

Your van is obd1 complaint so running a diagnosis might be difficult but its achievable. But from your story up there. The truth is you are on your way to buying another gear box

Fixed:
Van Spec:
1993 Volkswagen T4 (Eurovan)
Mileage: 170k miles
Engine 2.5ltr, petrol
Transmission: Automatic
My location: Abuja

Background: The van was purchased just this week from Berger by a brother of mine whom I thought could do a detailed inspection, purchase, and deliver to me in Abuja. Apparently, he got a very clean van, too clean for its age which I like. However the van runs on only 1 gear and he said he didn't realize it until he had moved very far from Lagos and this was the following day after purchase. The bus came to Abuja without any issue on the way. The van looks good and I drove it today. Surprisingly I seem to want to keep it hoping the issue can be fixed. I have called the dealer and he said we will talk tomorrow as he sounded so surprised that a van could get to Abuja in good time and yet I am claiming the gear is faulty.

My observation: It appears the gear is permanently stuck in 3 though I may be wrong. There are no shift points. It idles at around 750rpm and takes off sluggishly from 2500rpm. It does not achieve 100-110km/hr until around 5000rpm which is just below the redline. Even though the top speed is 220km/hr, any attempt to go beyond 120km/hr will redline the engine.

I took the engine to a Volkswagen mechanic who observed that the connectors on a particular gear cable was dirty and he cleaned it with a carburetor cleaner and reconnected it. After a test drive, the transmission shifted for the first time but very roughly. Then it returned back to the 1 gear system from rest. The transmission oil sump showed its been opened not too long ago and the oil looks clean though I am not sure of what brand/type in there. I am not sure if starting from oil change will pay off. There are tons of information on T4 forum unfortunately hours of research has not paid off for me.

Also the power steering is not as light as I expected, is this normal please?

Any suggestions on what to do or any reputable VW mechanic (not Kazeem) in Abuja?

@Fixed, am interested in the update on how the issue of ur gear is resolve.

Fixed:
Van Spec:
1993 Volkswagen T4 (Eurovan)
Mileage: 170k miles
Engine 2.5ltr, petrol
Transmission: Automatic
My location: Abuja

Background: The van was purchased just this week from Berger by a brother of mine whom I thought could do a detailed inspection, purchase, and deliver to me in Abuja. Apparently, he got a very clean van, too clean for its age which I like. However the van runs on only 1 gear and he said he didn't realize it until he had moved very far from Lagos and this was the following day after purchase. The bus came to Abuja without any issue on the way. The van looks good and I drove it today. Surprisingly I seem to want to keep it hoping the issue can be fixed. I have called the dealer and he said we will talk tomorrow as he sounded so surprised that a van could get to Abuja in good time and yet I am claiming the gear is faulty.

My observation: It appears the gear is permanently stuck in 3 though I may be wrong. There are no shift points. It idles at around 750rpm and takes off sluggishly from 2500rpm. It does not achieve 100-110km/hr until around 5000rpm which is just below the redline. Even though the top speed is 220km/hr, any attempt to go beyond 120km/hr will redline the engine.

I took the engine to a Volkswagen mechanic who observed that the connectors on a particular gear cable was dirty and he cleaned it with a carburetor cleaner and reconnected it. After a test drive, the transmission shifted for the first time but very roughly. Then it returned back to the 1 gear system from rest. The transmission oil sump showed its been opened not too long ago and the oil looks clean though I am not sure of what brand/type in there. I am not sure if starting from oil change will pay off. There are tons of information on T4 forum unfortunately hours of research has not paid off for me.

Also the power steering is not as light as I expected, is this normal please?

Any suggestions on what to do or any reputable VW mechanic (not Kazeem) in Abuja?

when a vehicle speed sensor doesn't communicate well with the ecu/TCM, the transmission will hardly shift gears. since the van isn't obd2 compliant, a scan can be achieved only with a VW obd1 scanner or within high end scanners that are equipped for both obd 1 & 2 diagnosis.