Date:         Fri, 1 Sep 2006 05:47:07 -0700
Reply-To:     Buffalo 66 <ss180ss@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Buffalo 66 <ss180ss@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: looking at a Vanagon In Topeka, KS w/ auto trans problems
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2006083112200315@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

the rest of the van is in pretty good shape- from the
pictures-


the catch is that I'm in Buffalo, NY and the van is in
Topeka, kansas.. so it's at least 1000 miles away..

 the owner said he bought the van at auction, and it
was running and driving at the time, (it was driven 75
miles to the auction, and driven at the auction
itself) but all of a sudden, all forward gears went.

my concern is getting it home- it would be so much
easier to fly out to Topeka, and drive it home, but
I'm really wary of what the trans problem could be.

it makes sense to me- that that valve body is gummed
up, and won't allow for engagement of the forward
gears, and that the seafoam stuff would help clean it
out.

the van itself only has 68k orig miles,

Is it a chance I'm willing to take though? to rent a
truck one way is about 900$, and the tow dolly is
about  150, so it's quite cost prohibitive to to it
one way back from Kansas.

eventually I'm going to do a TDi conversion on it, and
get a 5speed from these guys, but I would like to be
able to drive the van in the meantime while I obtain
all the necessary parts.
( I purchased a wrecked 01 TDi jetta as a donor)

does anyone know of any VW shops in the Topeka area?

   thnaks again!

   Percy.
Buffalo NY


--- Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM> wrote:

> I say,if you like it ,buy it. Low mileage? Vanagon
> automatic transmissions
> are almost bullit proof.If you need a new one,so
> what? They are cheap and
> easy. If the trest ofthevan is good,go ahead and buy
> it.Check teh overflow
> tank for green antifreeze.A no no. Use a natifreeze
> tester to check the
> concentration.If it is way below a 50-50 mix,suspect
> a head gasket leak.I
> suspect many years of sitting for your Vanagon.
> Start it up and let it run
> for 45 minutes. Shift it through the gears while it
> is idleing.Over and
> over  shift to P-R-N-2-1-3,OOPs I mean
> PNDR312.No,P1RN32. No,well,you know
> what I mean.The valve body is most likely very dirty
> with gooy stuff.Get
> Sea Foam trans tune(accept no substitute!!)at
> advance auto, and pour it in.
> Step back and wait.
> Ka-Boommmmmmmmmmmm.................... ?Trans all
> better.Thats allI can tell from here with what you
> have said. Then shop my
> ebay store  for trim items.Roger
>