Date:         Thu, 14 Sep 2000 01:45:27 -0400
Reply-To:     Jeff klender <jaklende@SCJ.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeff klender <jaklende@SCJ.COM>
Subject:      Re: 87 Westfalia automatic transmission problem
Comments: To: Finn Runyon <Finrun@AOL.COM>

On Sat, 9 Sep 2000 13:16:01 EDT, Finn Runyon <Finrun@AOL.COM> wrote:

>The automatic on my 87 Westfalia suddenly and without any prior problem
>stopped engaging.  If I accelerate hard, the van will red line remaining in
>1st, and a slow build up to speed will cause an upshift to 3rd @ about
>3000rpms.  I have changed the fluid faithfully every 20,000 miles for the
>last 50K I have owned it.  The trans has 160K on it with no known rebuild.
>Is is time for a rebuild, or is there an easy fix given the sudden nature
of
>the problem?
>Thanks for your help, Finn Runyon
 Finn
 Be careful. The Vanagon automatic is a two part unit. You can be checking
the fluid level in the automatic half and it could look and smell OK. But
the final drive half could be dry. There is a centrifical governor that
controls at what RPM the transmission will shift at, it is in the final
drive half under a black cap held down by two bolts. If the final drive is
low or dry then it will seize up and grind down the brass gear on the end.
I have a 88 VW Quantum 5cyl in the garage right now in need of a final
drive because of this. This car has the same style automatic as the
Vanagon. The owner could smell a "Propane like odor" and it would rev up
and then shift hard. The local shop changed the filter and fluid in the
automatic half , but did not check the final drive level. Do yourself a
favor and unscrew the allen plug in the side and check the level. If this
is not the problem then pull the dipstick and wipe the fluid on a clean
paper towel and smell it. If the clutches or the bands are burn then the
fluid will appear dark brown and smell burnt. If you are lucky and it is
not either of these problems then check that your linkage has not popped
off or came out of adjustment. The service manual covers this procedure
well. And when you change your fluid, it is OK if it slightly changes color
shortly afterwards. Because you are only changing half of the fluid, the
rest is in the convertor.
                      Good luck
                             Jeff Klender