Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 10:21:59 -0700
Reply-To: David Kao <dtkao0205@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Kao <dtkao0205@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: The automatic tranny on vanagons
In-Reply-To: <46A4CECF.3070905@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Even with 4-speed manual tranny vanagons (2WD) will be difficult to
drive on very bumpy roads, especially going uphill. When going uphill
on bumpy road you have to drive very slowly (unless you enjoy rock &
roll). But then the engine just does not have enough torque at low
RPM. The van won't move and the engine will stall. But if you step on
the pedal to increase torque the van would want to go too fast. Kids
riding in the vanagon could be tossed off the seats.
The solution to me was to use the clutch to battle with the problem.
I would drive slowly. And I would step on the clutch before the engine
stalls. I rev up the engine then engage the clutch to move on. Very
stressful to the clutch. But there wasn't anything else I could do.
That's my experience in my trip to a Stanislaus National Forest in the
Sierra Mountains. It was a forest road to access Lake Eleanore in
Yosemite National Park. My vanagon has plenty of ground clearance.
And it is a 2WD vanagon. The cars able to get there were all 4WD trucks
and SUVs. The drivers of all those were kind of shocked when my vanagon
showed up there. My passat also made it once. But it suffered a dent
at the bottom of the tranny oil pan. I won't do it again with my Passat.
David
--- Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> Thanks, Dennis & Roger for posting information about the automatic
> transmissions. I have heard that they are quite reliable, though I must
> say that when I was attempting to get Mellow Yellow up that 4WD road
> that I finally gave up on, I wished I had a manual. I like the more
> direct control manuals provide. I have heard that the Vanagon manual is
> less reliable, but I sure missed having a clutch on that road. Just
> stepping on the gas and hearing the engine's rpms go lower and lower
> while the van slowly clambered up, and kind of stopped here and there,
> wasn't fun. At one point I know I smelled hot transmission or torque
> converter. That, too, was unnerving. Though I bet I would have smelled
> clutch there, too.
>
> --
> 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
>
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