Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 17:29:04 -0800
Reply-To: zampano <matthias.k@ATTBI.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: zampano <matthias.k@ATTBI.COM>
Subject: Re: sounds of doomed tranny?
In-Reply-To: <3E76723F.10507@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
Test drive was successful, although I only took it around the block,
about 4 miles. (Yeah, we got big blocks around here, especially since
the LA fire dept just blocked off all the roads because an apartment
building almost burned down completely down the street this morning).
Anyway:
It shifts a lot smoother and I backed up about 100 yards worth of one
way street since the LAFD blocked access the other way. Didn't buck.
Still get the whine, though, but only when I let off the gas in 3rd.
Sounds like pigeons on steroids.
I have 161000 on the odometer and I have owned it since 125000. Pretty
sure it's the original tranny. I'll just keep trucking on it. I'm sure
the Redline does a better job than that bouillabaisse that was in
there...
Now I got to wait till night falls to do the Autobahn test.
Cheers
m
On Monday, March 17, 2003, at 05:11 PM, John Rodgers wrote:
> When I first got my 88 GL it was really hard to get into 1st gear.
> Then first chance I got, I had the mechanic check it, and he told me
> he could not feel any oil down in the tranny. I said drain the oil,
> lets take a look. He did and we did. Lots and lots and lots of
> brass/bronze floating in the oil, So much so it really looked golden
> instead of dark like your would expect manual tranny oil to look.
> Given the shifting problem, plus the low oil and color, I had him
> pull the tranny and tear it down. He found the synchronizers worn and
> something else ... don't remember what. Anyway, the internal repair
> was a minimal cost, but of course the labor to R&R was considerable. I
> had Redline MT 90 put in as the lubricant. I have never regretted it.
> Got 60,000 on that tranny now with no problems I just had the tranny
> fluid change again, and once again put in Redline MT 90. There was no
> metal in the old MT 90 that came out, and it was darker but clear.
> Appears to me that that is really good stuff and I'm going to stick
> with it. Prol'ly didn't need to change it but I feel better changing
> it about every two years. Pretty cheap insurance. Seems like I put 7
> pints of fluid in there to just feel it through the file hole.
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
> zampano wrote:
>
>> Well,
>>
>> I just drained my oil transmission fluid and replaced it with Redline
>> MT-90.
>>
>> Have been having symptoms like whining, and then the other day it
>> started bucking in reverse. Not when going slow, but if I speed up a
>> bit (in reverse).
>> My drain plug looked like a stalactite, or something like that. The
>> fluid had a bronze shimmer to it, and was milky. I dipped my hand into
>> it and once the oil dripped off I had little metal shavings all over
>> my
>> hand-tiny, looked almost like glitter or suchwhat.
>>
>> Cleane dup the drain plug, put it back in and filled it with 3 quarts
>> of MT-90. I could stick my finger into the hole and bending my index
>> tip, I'd hit fluid. I'll leave it at that.
>> Seems like a lot of different data floating around regarding capacity.
>>
>> Going for a test drive as we speak.
>>
>> matthias
>>
>> 84 wbx wolfy 4 spd
>>
>> On Monday, March 17, 2003, at 02:39 PM, Bradley Flubacher wrote:
>>
>>> Or change it to an even better lubricant: Amsoil!
>>>
>>> ;)
>>>
>>> Brad
>>>
>>>
>>> developtrust wrote:
>>>
>>>> Before you do any repairs, drain out the old gear oil and replace
>>>> with Red
>>>> Line Synthetic gear oil. When I drained mine the original gear oil
>>>> was
>>>> filthy. The Red Line made a huge positive difference in shifting.
>>>> But
>>>> then I
>>>> did not have problems or "moaning" in 3rd & 4th. Switch gear oil and
>>>> have it
>>>> diagnosed again. Others may have better advice, but with 134 miles
>>>> on
>>>> the
>>>> transaxle you might need a rebuild or new tranny. Mine was replaced
>>>> by the
>>>> original owner at 99,000.
>>>>
>>>> William
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> i'm in the process of selling my '82 vanagon. a potential buyer
>>>>> had
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> his
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> mechanic look it over and the mechanic advised him the tranny is
>>>>> going out
>>>>> or will be very soon. this took my by surprise since i was unaware
>>>>> of any
>>>>> problem with it. easy shifting, smooth and decisive gear changes,
>>>>> etc.
>>>>> however, in 1st or 2nd (but not in 3rd or 4th that i can hear)
>>>>> there
>>>>> is a
>>>>> very slight "moaning" sound which i always assumed indicated some
>>>>> wear in
>>>>> the gears. the van spends most its time in lower gears, in the city
>>>>> and
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> it's
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> the original transaxle with 134,000 on it. i'm getting a diagnostic
>>>>> test
>>>>> from triple-a but wondered if anybody had some thoughts based on
>>>>> this
>>>>> description. thanks. art mcginn
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ---
>>>>> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
>>>>> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>>>>> Version: 6.0.461 / Virus Database: 260 - Release Date: 3/10/03
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
| 
