Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:06:38 -0700
Reply-To: Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Talk to me about AT's!
In-Reply-To: <BAY125-F23CC043623155EF9324FF9A0F40@phx.gbl>
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Dennis Haynes typed:
[snip]
> However,
> you may also have an adjustment or control problem preventing the tranny
> from working completely as it should.
>
> For going up hills, when the accelerator is floored, a forced down shift
> should occur automatically.
That's the "kick down" mechanism, yes? Mine works but it does require a
fairly manly stomp on the pedal -- just gradually flooring the
accelerator does not cause the transmission to downshift.
>
[snip]
>
> This will shoot you up most hills. If the hill is
> extended or you find it hunting between 2 and 3, then manually down shift
> and back off the throttle to maintain ~ 4,200 rpm. This will keep the
> engine oil from overheating.
Okay, interesting. I was holding closer to 3,800 rpm. 4,200 is a sweeter
spot?
>
> For going down hill, the rule of thumb is go down in the same gear as you
> would go up. Since the tranny does not know you are going down hill,
> manually down shift and definitely let the engine braking do some of the
> work. If you are still going to fast, you want to use the brakes to scrub
> off speed and then cost again. You don't want to ride the brakes all the
> way
> down. There is some skill, art to doing this properly. THese conditions are
> where larger brakes and vented rotors have benefit.
Thanks -- this makes sense. My unfamiliarity with auto transmissions had
me thinking about warnings about towing vehicles with auto trannies --
unless set to neutral? I worried that maybe the axles are meant to be
the "output" from the gears, and the engine the "input," and that
driving the transmission from the wheels may cause problems.
>
[snip]
>
> A lower gear makes heat as there are now a lot of gears turning to make the
> reduction.
Thus the marked change in the sound of the transmission -- the sonic
character that had me wondering how much stress I was putting on things
while climbing for a long period in 1 or 2.
> This also makes for a lot more wear but overall it is better
> than
> forcing the torque converter and lugging the engine.
>
Thanks, Dennis -- I hope I'm not the only one who will find this
information useful.
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR
