Date:         Mon, 23 Aug 2004 22:32:54 -0700
Reply-To:     Craig Oda <craigoda@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Craig Oda <craigoda@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: ATF filter: urban legend?
In-Reply-To:  <412AA31A.1090400@rcn.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Do you know if the ATF level goes up when the engine is hot and
running in park?  I think that when I checked the fluid level when the
engine was off that it appeared too low and I put some extra fluid in.
 I think maybe now it is running a bit high.  Maybe I should drain
some?  I suppose that I can loosen the bolts on the pan or something.

BTW, thanks to the people on the list, I got my tranny back in.  I
drove the van around the block a few times.  It moves and shifts, but
idles poorly.  Right now I need to adjust something related to the
throttle position.  The van idles too low in reverse and drive.  It
runs fine when I press the gas.  I've loosened the idle screw out
about a turn and a half.  I'm thinking that I need to adjust some
cables on the tranny or somthing...  It's past 10pm and this will have
to wait until tomorrow.  However, in prep for tomorrow, does anyone
have pointers on where I should start looking?

I took the tranny out and just got it back in.  After I put it back
in, the RPM in reverse and drive (with no pressure on accelerator
pedal) seem really low.

Stuff I could adjust:
  - rod that goes through throttle body and has a spring and
screwdriver slot on the end of it
  - cable that connects to tranny either the gas pedal or the shifter
(if these are adjustable, how do I adjust it?)
  - The idle switch on my throttle body (1983.5  2-switch model) is
fully depressed, much more than before I took out the tranny.  I can
adjust this, but don't think it is the problem
  - some other nuts on the tranny.  I may have the copper one on too
tight.  It's the one on the stud that has two faces flattened out and
there is a spacer on one side of a metal plate.

Thanks for any advice.

--  Craig

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 21:08:26 -0500, Larry Alofs <lalofs@rcn.com> wrote:
> The AT and the final drive do NOT share the same fluid, at least they
> aren't supposed to.  When the seal between them gives out the
> differential lube is said to do bad things to the AT.
>    The final drive is filled/checked thru the hole on its side with the
> 17 mm plug.  The AT is filled thru the tube where its dipstick is.  Do
> not overfill; make the final check with the transmission hot, idling in
> park.
> Larry A.
>
>
>
>
> Craig Oda wrote:
> > After the ATF is drained, what's the easiest way to refill and check the level?
> >
> > I've heard of a 17mm allen nut hole.  Or, is this for the gear oil in
> > the final drive section??
> >
> > I was thinking of just pouring a few quarts of tranny fluid down the
> > tranny filler tube with a special funnel and checking the level with
> > the stick.    I disconnected the tranny fluid filler tube and drained
> > most of the fluid in the process.
> >
> > Are there other things I should chck out before taking the van out for
> > a test drive?
> >
> > I guess the automatic transmission and the final drive differential
> > share the same fluids?
> >
> > -- Craig
> >
> > On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 17:28:28 -0500, Larry Alofs <lalofs@rcn.com> wrote:
> >
> >>Someone referred to a drain plug.  My '91 doesn't have one; it may
> >>depend on the year.  On mine I have to loosen the nut around the
> >>filler/check tube where it goes onto the side of the pan at the bottom
> >>of the trans.  Sometimes these are hard to get loose and easy to round
> >>off.  If you use an adjustable wrench, be sure that it is tight.
> >>  Good luck,
> >>Larry A.
> >>
>
>