Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 14:06:22 -0700
Reply-To: Rocket J Squirrel <j.michael.elliott@ADELPHIA.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rocket J Squirrel <j.michael.elliott@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject: Re: ATF filter: urban legend?
In-Reply-To: <004701c48951$7f1d00e0$4ff5db0c@MAIN>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Roger that. So I guess the procedure goes something like this:
Park car on flat, clean surface. Avoid windy parking lots with blowing
tumbleweeds, shopping bags, dirt, bears, coffee, gray water, and insects.
Drain tranny through strainer, inspect for Bad Stuff (non-old-ATF
material). If found, ask for advice.
Drop pan.
Beware drippage.
Inspect inside of pan and filter and darn near everything for signs of
Bad Stuff. If found, ask for advice.
Wipe everything clean with something much cleaner and lint-free.
Install new filter, gasket and bottom cover. Installation is the reverse
of removal. Install drain plug with new gasket 0-ring (if required).
Re-fill with new ATF.
I presume Bentley's gives advice on what kind ATF and how much.
Anything at Pep Boys okay?
Note to self: if fluid, pan bottom and filter don't show Bad Stuff, and
throttle linkage seems to be adjusted per manual, AND if slippage still
seems to occur between 1st and 2nd, ask Wiser Men for more advice.
---
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 VW Type 2 / 84 Westy: A poor but proud race.
KG6RCR
Robert Fisher wrote:
>By 'red goo', I think he may have meant the old/dirty tranny fluid that
>drips off/out of the case even after you've drained the pan and removed it.
>Make sure that you do this work in as 'clean' an environment as possible-
>you don't want to let anything foreign into your tranny.
>Just for grins and giggles, you may want to 'strain', if you will, the
>tranny fluid as it drains, and then inspect that and the inside/bottom of
>the pan for interesting particles and objects-this could give you some idea
>of the general health of your tranny. If you find anything that worries you,
>you can ask here or possibly take it to a local tranny shop and get their
>opinion. There's often a magnet in the bottom of the pan to attract metal
>particles, btw. Make sure to use something clean and lint free, etc. if you
>do any wiping (in the pan, for instance). Have the replacement fluid on hand
>before you start. No, I don't think you're stupid- but I have been. Can't
>remember if there's a gasket/o-ring on the drain plug- if there is, inspect
>and clean it as well. Probably a good idea to replace it for GP.
>As for the Bentley, every manual I've seen seems to assumes too much. The
>reality of it is that if they covered everything that someone might be
>ignorant of, it'd come in four volumes. Compared to many Haynes and
>Chilton's I've had, it's a pretty solid reference. Besides, you have the
>Vanagon archives and the ever-lovin' listees here to help fill in the gaps.
>If, however, you encounter any bears whilst making repairs- you're on yer
>own.
>
>Good luck,
>Robert
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Rocket J Squirrel" <j.michael.elliott@ADELPHIA.NET>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Monday, August 23, 2004 12:42 PM
>Subject: Re: ATF filter: urban legend?
>
>
>
>
>>jbange wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>>>Nah, it's there. I changed mine just yesterday. It's a flat round
>>>>>screen
>>>>>thingy INSIDE the transmission. You have to pull the bottom pan off
>>>>>
>>>>>
>the
>
>
>>>>>tranny to get to it. It usually comes in the same package with the big
>>>>>rubber transmission pan gasket.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>Then WTF? How come Bentley's doesn't mention it anywhere that I can
>>>>find?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>I think it shows up in one of those exploded diagrams in the Bentley
>>>
>>>
>(I'm
>
>
>>>at work; I'll check when I get home), but they don't really even mention
>>>it. I only found out about it when I ordered the pan gasket to replace
>>>mine, which was leaking. I suspect it's one of those annoying "anyone
>>>
>>>
>who
>
>
>>>needs to know should know already" things where the Bentley assumes
>>>you're
>>>an experienced professional mechanic.
>>>
>>>
>>Well, if they assume someone is an experienced professional mechanic
>>then I am in deep trouble with this manual!
>>
>>
>>
>>>>Is there a procedure online that describes how to pull, inspect and
>>>>replace this filter? I've never opened a tranny before.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>Big, flat, square pan on the bottom of the tranny (not to be confused
>>>with
>>>the angled pan with a humped bottom on the final drive assembly) held on
>>>with bolts all around the edge. Drain the ATF, unbolt and remove the
>>>
>>>
>pan,
>
>
>>>curse as red goo drips on you, and there you should see the filter and
>>>its
>>>gasket. It's essentially just a round flat screen filter, so a visual
>>>inspection should be enough to tell if it's clogged with crap. Naturally
>>>the Bentley has labelled the filter, filter gasket, and pan gasket as
>>>"always replace" parts, but you can probably get away with reusing the
>>>old
>>>stuff while you're troubleshooting.
>>>
>>>
>>Sounds about as hard as doing the filter on the bottom of my 71's
>>upright aircooled engine. Thanks for the blow-by-blow. I've ordered the
>>kit you recommended . . . now, how about that red goo?
>>--
>>
>>Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>>71 VW Type 2 / 84 Westy: A poor but proud race.
>>KG6RCR
>>
>>
>
>
>
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