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Date:         Thu, 20 Jul 2006 23:27:38 -0400
Reply-To:     robertmstewart <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         robertmstewart <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: AT Fluid Burping out of ATF Dip Stick Tube? Causes Trans
              Malfunction, 88 Auto
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <001001c6ac74$539a6910$6400a8c0@MASTERPC>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

Well Dennis it may be a stretch but I sounds like the exact symptoms of my van.

I am going to have the mechanics pump out the ATF fluid and then refill it with the proper level. I think this is the best thing to do, what do you think? (as well as check the breathers)

Rob

on 7/20/06 11:18 PM, Dennis Haynes at dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET wrote:

> Actually, > With the engine off, fluid will drain from the torque converter and give > a really high reading on the stick. Then the fluid level will be too low > possible causing the trans to slip along with aerating the fluid and > making a lot of heat and possibly causing the fluid to boil out, but > that last part is a stretch. > > Dennis > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf > Of Mike Collum > Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2006 10:55 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: AT Fluid Burping out of ATF Dip Stick Tube? Causes Trans > Malfunction, 88 Auto > > Proper checking is done on a level plane, while hot, engine running, and > with the shifter in park or neutral. > > If you were seeing what looked like the proper level on the dipstick > with the engine off, I'd say your first problem was the transmission was > grossly overfilled. > > I don't know how to advise you at this point. Maybe someone with > "Experience" with this particular problem will chime in. (Experience is > what we get when we were expecting something else). > > Mike > > > robertmstewart wrote: >> I checked in Park with engine off. 5-10 min after running. >> >> >> on 7/20/06 10:31 PM, Mike Collum at collum@VERIZON.NET wrote: >> >> >>> Were you checking the ATF level with the engine running and while in >>> park or neutral? >>> >>> Mike >>> >>> >>> robertmstewart wrote: >>> >>>> Hello everyone, >>>> >>>> I have a question for you, my 88 Auto with a used good condition > Tranny all >>>> of a sudden today started to fail and I am at a loss and need your >>>> feedback... >>>> >>>> (The short version is this: ATF burping and how does a perfectly > working AT >>>> go to a non-functioning AT?) >>>> >>>> Hereıs the background: >>>> >>>> The vanıs past owner before the person I purchased it from was a VW > Mechanic >>>> and the prior owner and he installed another auto trans from another > good >>>> working vanıs tranny several years ago. >>>> >>>> I have had the van since January 06. Since then the transmission has > been >>>> shifting normally, and for the last month I have been traveling 3-4 > hour >>>> trips from Long Island to Upstate NY and doing some serious highway > driving >>>> and mountain driving. Usually I put in at least 8 hours of solid > driving per >>>> weekend for 4 weekends. All in all the van has performed great.. >>>> >>>> Hereıs where the story starts.. Just before my first long trip (4 > weeks ago) >>>> I check all fluids, stupidly I did it when the van was cold, and in > doing so >>>> thought the ATF was low so I added just a little bit to what was in > there, >>>> now after about 3hrs of driving, I pull into the driveway at my > destination >>>> and park the van, well I see ATF fluid burping out of the Dip Stick > tube! >>>> Not much just a little 1/4 cup. I figure itıs just the overflow > kicking out. >>>> I check it in 10 minutes and the level is fine. >>>> >>>> Well 4 weeks pass and I drive it pretty hard to and from the LI to > Upstate >>>> NY, 8 hrs per weekend (3x) all is good. Today I start the van up and > drive 1 >>>> mile away from the house in Long Island to the grocery, on the way I > can see >>>> smoke from the back of the van, it smells like the ATF burping and > leaking >>>> onto the exhaust. I park at the grocery and see it burping out, about > 1/4 ­ >>>> 1/2 cup. I do some shopping come back 15 min. later, and drive the 1 > mile >>>> home, all seems fine. No smoke. After it cools down a bit I check the > ATF >>>> fluid and it appears a bit low, so I top it off with Dexron III and >>>> accidentally over fill it but not by much. >>>> >>>> About 4 hours later I get in the van and drive back the same > direction about >>>> 1 mile to go to the post office and immediately I can detect > something is >>>> not right. >>>> At the stop light with the brake on I can see the rpmıs go from about > 875 >>>> and revs to about 1,000, then levels off again, normally at idle it > stays >>>> right at 875. I thought the surging was strange. I then continue to > drive >>>> and again I see the smoke occurring again from the back of the van, > smells >>>> again like ATF on the exhaust, now I decide to head right to me local >>>> standard mechanic not my VW guy cause he was closed. >>>> >>>> The local guy tells me the burping is normal if there is to much ATF > in the >>>> case. So he checks the fluid and he says the level is good. He tells > me to >>>> bring it by in the morning as I wanted them to check the brakes since > I just >>>> had all the brakes replaced (the original ones were too rusty). I > then >>>> decide to take a little drive just a mile down the road along beach > to let >>>> the fluid cycle through and burn off the stuff was sitting on the > exhaust >>>> and I thought that maybe taking it up to highway speed would be good, > to get >>>> the fluid really circulating. Bad idea... >>>> >>>> As I drive this simple little straight route I notice the > transmission is >>>> not engaging right, when I take my foot off the brake it usually goes >>>> forward on its own, this time nothing.. I have to gas it. Then it > gets >>>> progressively worse. It goes into 1st, then second, then it revıs and > then >>>> goes to 3rd, and then I thought, oh crap! I have problems. Time to > get it >>>> back to the mechanic! >>>> >>>> Well To late, I turn it around to go back the mile I came and now at > the >>>> stop light I give it gas and it goes now where! >>>> >>>> I am stuck during rush hour and everyone is honking, my flasher are > on, but >>>> people donıt pay attention. I signal for them to go around me. People > are >>>> screaming, others understand.. >>>> >>>> I call the mechanic and see if they can come by and push me the 4 > blocks to >>>> the garage, he says he canıt. I then call AAA to haul my van back, > but >>>> right after I decide to start the van and try... Well it starts to > move, >>>> each time I stop itıs a crap shoot to whether it will move. It never > gets >>>> past 1st gear. I have to literally move my body a little forward to > try and >>>> coax the van to get in gear and move, but somehow I get to the > garage. While >>>> the engine is still hot I check the ATF level, I see a hair on the > end, but >>>> it was pretty try. >>>> >>>> So what is going on with all the burping and how does a perfectly > working AT >>>> go to a non-functioning AT? The mechanic suspected that the AT is >>>> overheating.. What does this mean? I just hope this does turn into a > massive >>>> money pit now..... >>>> >>>> I hope someone here can shed some light on the burping issue, and why > all of >>>> a sudden the transmission would not engage... >>>> >>>> Thanks in advance, >>>> Robert >>>> >> >> >> >>


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