Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 19:04:21 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: 87 tranny problems (sorry -kinda long)
In-Reply-To: <OE39mEIkLeoOWGMhLPB000013e2@hotmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Marla,
Although it sucks that your transmission or differential may be leaking
on the outside, the problems you are having indicate internal leakage at
the clutch pistons or seal rings. The transmission overhaul probably
only included the pparts that failed or there may be a defective
repalcment part. Anyway, it is going to have to come out and be
repaired, properly. If you continue to operate the van with the
transmission slipping you will burn up the clutches and steel plates and
eventually get stuck.
Good Luck,
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Marla Stelk
Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2002 2:21 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: 87 tranny problems (sorry -kinda long)
Hi Volks,
So I've dug through the archives and found a few suggestions to try, but
I thought I'd also write to the list and see if anyone could say "oh yea
-same thing happened to me so try this!". My van came with a new
transmission that was put in by a shop called "Transmission Specialists"
- not a VW place specifically. When I got my pre-purchase inspection
done, the VW mechanic told me my tranny was leaking and to get it fixed
while I still had a month warranty on it. So I took it in to the tranny
guys, and they said the transmission was not leaking, but my
differential was. So I go back to the VW guy, and he said, well, their
both leaking, but don't worry about it, just keep checking your tranny
fluid level. So now its a year later, and I drove up to Buses by the
Buoy gathering in Maine about 2 weeks ago. My tranny started acting
weird - sticking a bit. We all pulled in to a campground and of course,
as soon as I opened my engine compartment I got a bunch of guys who came
to look. They noticed that my tranny fluid level was below the minimum
mark and we filled it up. I also had oil all over my engine
compartment, especially around the air filter area. I think that was
due to having a NAPA oil filter instead of a Mann b/c since I changed it
I haven't had oil on the engine. Anyway, I drove home (southeastern
Mass.) and still had problems with tranny sticking occasionally. So I
took the suggestion of some folks on the list and changed the tranny
filter and gasket. There wasn't any metal flakes in it, but it was
kinda brown. The guy who helped me change it said that it was a
Japanese transmission....(is that okay?) We filled it while warmed up
and running, but it took in a little more fluid than was stated by
Bentley...
Thinking since the tranny was only a year old, that the filter change
would fix the problem, I took off to Western Mass. for an art show that
I was in over the weekend. The tranny started getting weird again, this
time slipping from 4th into 3rd while highway driving, and then sticking
and slipping while trying to accelerate off the highway ramp. Then my
power steering belt flipped. So I was able to replace the power
steering belt myself, but had to hobble home with the tranny acting all
weird. Athough it would sometimes drive okay - it was more difficult if
going up a hill, but if I put the gas petal to the floor, it seemed to
accelerate okay. BTW - its had a funny smell to it for a while now. Oh
yea, I don't see any leaks dripping from the tranny or the differential,
and I've had it parked with a piece of cardboard underneath it. But, it
somehow leaks fluid, because it checked the levels while stopped off the
highway and the tranny was again low on fluild even tho it had been just
filled two days earlier!
I'd appreciate any thoughts on this. I don't really understand what
what the diffential does. From what I've read in the archives, it could
be the seal between the differential and the tranny, or it could be the
hydrolics... I'm really upset because I feel like I had this checked
out by 2 mechanics who told me not to worry about it and now I'm worried
that I have some really expensive repair on my hands that I really can't
afford right now. Thanks for any and all help on this.
Peace,
Marla
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