Date:         Wed, 10 Jan 2007 14:45:02 +0000
Reply-To:     dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Auto tranny question
Comments: To: RAlanen@AOL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <388.11335fb0.32d6319a@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Is it not shifting up from 1-2 or 2-3? Since the fluid and filter has been changed, I would next check the governor. This is what controls the normal shift points. A have seen debris that got past past the filter keep the balls from seating. If ATF is getting into the final drive, the governor seal may be the cause. This can be replaced with the trans in place. Usually, poor up shifting is due to insufficient pressure in the system. A bad piston or internal seal can be the problem. The 2nd gear brake band piston seals are easily serviceable. The Bentley does detail pressure testing the trans to determine internal problems. An experienced tranny guy can also drop the valve body and air test the clutch pistons.

Dennis

----- Original Message -----
From: Frank Condelli
Date: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 7:21 am
Subject: Auto tranny question
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM

> Volks, my travelling friends and customers, Gerry & Sharon, who
> have spent
> the last three years travelling around South America in their
> '87 Westy are
> now heading back toward Ottawa and are experienceing a problem
> with the auto
> tranny somewhere in Cost Rica ~ Nicaragua. See their travel
> blog at
> _www.travelpod.com/members/thymeoff_
> (http://www.travelpod.com/members/thymeoff) .
> What seems to be occurring is that it will not shift up into
> top gear from cold
> start until it has been fully warmed up, usually about 5 km. I
> advised them
> to have the fluid and filter changed. I just received the
> following message.
> Anyone have an idea what may be happening here and what they
> should do ?
> I'm thinking the valve body may have gotten crud in it. Is that
> possible ?
>
> >>As for the transmission - yes, it's automatic - I've had the
> filter and
> ATF replaced twice on the trip. Once in Buenos Aires, and most
> recently in
> Bogota (again about 3,000 km ago) - when I thought the gasket
> was leaking but it
> turned out to be the seal between the transmission and the
> final drive. So,
> any other ideas why it might not like to change up until it's
> warmed up
> (generally now about 5km)? I'll check the ATF level again to
> make sure that's okay
> (engine at operating temperature and running). I'm loathe to
> take it in
> anywhere unless I can find a really good shop specializing in
> automatictransmission - maybe in Mexico? Really depends whether
> it gets any worse.<<
>
> Cheers,
>
> Frank Condelli
> Almonte, Ontario, Canada
> '87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg (Forsale) & Lionel Trains
> (_Collectionfor sale_
> (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
> Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
> _Frank Condelli & Associates_
> (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)_Vanagon Stainless
> Steel Exhaust Systems_
> (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
> _BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper
> camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10, 2007
>