Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2003 20:51:20 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Auto Trans dilemma
In-Reply-To: <5.2.0.9.0.20030920161501.025cceb0@buncombe.main.nc.us>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
I don't have an auto tranny in my 88 GL, but from my many reads on the
Vanagon List, evidently the auto tranny is imminently rebuildable by the
adventuresome home mechanic willing to try something new. Supposedly the
auto tranny can be re-built using a kit and a standard toolbox. Now we
are talking the transmission, not the ring and pinion.
I think it is worth looking through the archives for the info, and
poling the other list members for info.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Edward Maglott wrote:
> Well, I thought I would get some feedback from the list on the latest
> in my
> AT woes.
>
> History: My AT was going bad. I got a spare trans and rebuilt it
> myself. I put it in and immediately had troubles. No shift into 2nd,
> then
> it would shift into second, but not well, and never got any 3rd gear.
> Also
> leaking at the troque converter seal, which I replaced with the one in
> the
> rebuild kit. I tried swapping the governor and valve body
> (separately) out
> of my original (bad) tranny, but no improvement.
>
> So in frustration I took the van in to a professional transmission
> rebuild
> place. They quoted me a "very broad ball park figure" of $1200-$1700. I
> suppose that is not an unreasonable amount. For that they will take both
> of my trannies and try to make one good one, and buy whatever other parts
> it needs, and give me a 12month/12k mile warranty (iirc). The appeal of
> this is that if it has trouble, I just take it back to them and they
> handle
> the removal, repair and replacement. Option 2 would be to buy a rebuilt
> trans and put it in myself. Seems like I've seen these advertised for
> less
> than the $1200-$1700 the trans place quoted me. There I get a warranty,
> but actually using the warranty would be a royal pain. Removing and
> shipping the trans, etc. Option 3 is to get a local used trans and
> slap it
> in. cheaper, but what am I getting? Could be just another dog.
> Option 4,
> continue trying to fix it myself. I am just getting sick of it, and have
> surpassed my level of expertise. I would have to start throwing parts at
> it, and that would be expensive and possibly still not effective.
>
> Anybody been down this road and have any advice for me?
> Edward
>
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