Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 19:36:50 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: another tranny question (was RE: out comes the tranny (again)
In-Reply-To: <E1CrTUE-00052a-00@smtp01.mrf.mail.rcn.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Rarely is 1st gear a problem. Jumping out of 1st is usually caused by
the teeth on the gear hub and engagement ring getting damaged. Someone
drove with a dragging clutch, or downshifted into 1st while the van was
still traveling too fast for the synchronizers to work. One of those "If
you can't find them-grind them" deals! Driven properly, this may not get
any worse but I hate to think of all the extra metal parts wearing
through the bearings.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Joy Hecht
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 10:59 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: another tranny question (was RE: out comes the tranny (again)
Hmm, Warren's compliments made me think I should ask you a question too,
Dennis! Or anyone else, of course.
My transmission works, but I think it's on its way out. It won't stay
in
first gear. I put it in first, start driving, and then within fifty
feet or
so it usually slips out of first into neutral. By then I can usually
shift
into second, so this is not a problem. And it's been doing it pretty
much
as long as I've had the van and doesn't seem to be getting worse. I
don't
have trouble with 2nd through 4th.
Is this the symptom when transmissions fail? I've never had a car whose
transmission failed. Could it keep doing this for decades and I
wouldn't
have to replace the tranny?
Today I was driving around Philadelphia in snow and ice. Traffic was
moving
around 10 mph, stopping all the time. I had a lot of trouble getting
Matilda started - I'd put her in first and she just wouldn't move. If I
could get her in second she'd move a bit better, but sometimes I'd be
sitting there when the light changed green just waving my hands to urge
her
on through the intersection. I think she was sliding on the ice, though
mostly not enough that I could see or feel it. It was really cold out
(okay, not by Canadian standards!). Do dicey transmissions behave worse
in
snow and ice? Or could my problems starting up once I'd stopped simply
have
been because I was sliding more than I realized?
Joy
****************************************************************
Joy Hecht
and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon
For musings about life and the vanadventures:
http://users.rcn.com/jhecht/gypsy
****************************************************************
:::-----Original Message-----
:::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On
Behalf
:::Of Warren Lail
:::Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 8:43 PM
:::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
:::Subject: Re: out comes the tranny (again)
:::
:::Thanks Dennis. I will bring this up with my tranny guy next week
when I
:::return the tranny for the third time.
:::I had a feeling that the movement of the shifter was telling me
something
:::that was probably related to the
:::growling.
:::
:::I truly appreciate your comments. How in the world did you come to
know
:::so much about Vanagons?
:::Are you a factory-trained technician? You must be, or you must be a
:::factory Trainer. You are the authority
:::I look to on the list, bar none. Thanks for being out there and for
:::being so helpful.
:::
:::Warren
:::
:::----- Original Message -----
:::From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@optonline.net>
:::Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 7:22 pm
:::Subject: RE: out comes the tranny (again)
:::
:::> The shifter moving that much in third indicates the gear carrier
:::> housingis shot. The thrust load is actually pushing the input shaft
:::> as you
:::> apply power. It is probably doing it in 4th also but it will not be
as
:::> noticeable as the overdrive ratio doesn't push as hard. This is a
:::> commonproblem not noticed by many tranny repair folks. This also
:::> explains the
:::> growls.
:::>
:::> Dennis