Date:         Tue, 7 Nov 2006 14:11:22 -0800
Reply-To:     BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Help Needed on Manual to Auto Trans wiring problem.
Comments: To: Terry K <ctonline@webtv.net>, Mike Collum <collum@verizon.net>,
          John Lauterbach <lauterba@bellsouth.net>
In-Reply-To:  <ccafde090611061732u6032f8b9v26a9daf06d8b2ad4@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

My thanks to those of you who offered advice on this problem. The problem
resolution is not clear to me. It is fixed and the Doka runs perfectly even
w/o the neutral switch. The mechanic working on the conversion is being very
evasive about what the fix was. I suspect he forgot to connect some plug
related to the idle compensator. He insist had to do some wiring to the
transmission but refuse to say what it was all the while turning beet red
when questioned. That tells me he missed something and realize it later.

Anyway, the happy ending is my 88 Canadian 2wd Doka is now an automatic.

Here's a quick summary of mods so far. Last year had powersteering added.
Cost IIRC $284 including all the parts (ZF rebuilt rack) & labor. The
engine/trans swap was a straight across trade. I provided all the parts
except the accelerator cable. Shop provided labor and anything else needed
in exchange for my dead 2.1 engine and my good 4-speed manual trans. I was
giving away the engine and selling the trans for $350. So as far as I was
concerned the labor part of the deal cost me $350. The engine and trans came
from a donor van which cost me nothing after I sold the remains. I lucked
out when a local shop was getting ready to crush a van. Got the power
windows, power locks with the doors for $25. I had to remove the vent
windows and power mirrors for them. Added power mirrors and wiring harness
from my engine and trans donor van. I did the install.

Next stop, adding the Behr in dash AC. The donor motor came with the AC
compressor ready to go. Have my 4th door with surrounding material from a
Tristar for later incorporation. One of these days my little Doka Van
Frankenstein will make me a nice daily driver for San Francisco hills and
stop and go traffic. Who knows? Maybe my spare 1.9TD AAZ motor will finally
make it's way into the engine compartment.


Cheers,

BenT
http://vanagoncafe.com


ps: labor rates above based on "good buddy discount" plus lots and lots of
waiting for shop to have no other work available.