Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 16:52:50 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Automatic transmission leak
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perhaps there's some confusion about how much to put in then.
re
"it needs two pints, not a full "quart..................isn't 2 pints a
quart ? I thought it was. Maybe the government changed it.
but........it's VERY important to not overfill an automatic trans.
( oh btw.........just thought of this, for the original poster who never
even checked his ATF fluid level in a couple of years or whatever.........
he might find it interesting to know there is a separate part of the Auto
trans for the differential oil .........and that level, and the condition of
the oil considered, in addition to the ATF level and condition of that fluid
.
But, if you overfill an auto trans, and they can foam or froth up badly
.........badly enough to not operate properly, or puke out oil too.
It would not be a bad idea to drop the pan, see how much yuck is in the
bottom of the pan, replace or clean the screen in there,
and start over with the correct level of new ATF , and see how it acts.
I don't regard them as bullet proof quite, but 'pretty durable.'
I had one in a 90 Carat Subaru Vanagon that all of a sudden wouldn't shift
from 2nd to 3rd............sort of for 'no reason' . While removing that
trans to install one used one with low miles since a rebuild, I found the
ball pivot at the aft end of the throttle cable very rusted........
and this is a spot that's kinda hard to get to or see...........a bit up in
there when viewed from under the van. And I was wondering if that rusted
pivot was keeping the throttle from pulling the lever on the trans well
enough.
A couple years later, I put that same auto trans in another van, lubed
that pivot nicely ...........and I think that's why it wouldn't shift up.
So something you want to make sure is pivoting and lubed properly
.............where the throttle cable clips onto a ball pivot on the
transmission lever, on the side of the trans.
They do require some attention and servicing ............then they'll last
pretty well all right.
I also recommend Royal Purple synthetic ATF . Even if I just pump out a
couple of qts. of old ATF and put in two new qts. ( 4 pints ) of Royal
Purple ATF, the van goes slightly and noticeably better, just from that
Royal Purple ATF being added.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Hector Zapata" <hlzapata@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, April 05, 2009 10:14 AM
Subject: Re: Automatic transmission leak
First, you're suppose to check it in Park, not neutral. Second, if the fluid
is touching the lower mark on the dipstick, it needs two pints, not a full
quart. If you don't get rid of the excess, the tranny will, and there's a
possibility that it might damage a seal or a gasket. What I've done is
loosen the dipstick tube where it attaches to the tranny, and drain a little
bit of fluid. You can always add more, but in small quantities. Good luck.
Hector
1990 Carat 'Ursula'
On Sun, Apr 5, 2009 at 11:53 AM, Danny C <bruiserbabie@yahoo.com> wrote:
> So I have owned several vanagons over the years but this is the first one
> with an automatic transmishion. And it is a westy. Great running van. I
> have
> owned it for over a year now and the tranny has never givin me any
> trouble.
> In fact this may sound real bad but I don’t think I have ever checked the
> tranny fluid level the whole time I have owned it tell about one week ago.
> Its just slipped my mind and never saw any leaks nor has it ever been any
> problem. Well I did just have the 1.9 engine rebuilt two weeks ago and
> when
> I was driving it home the other day I thought I would check the tranny
> level, I don’t know why all of assuden I felt compelled to check it.
> Remember It has never leaked a day since I have owned it and I have put
> 20,000 miles on it. So I pulled the dip stick and saw nothing on the
> stick,(yes I was on level ground, put it into 1st then neutral) I was at
> Nappa so I went in a bought 2 quarts of ATF. I added one it came up so I
> drove it
> home. A few days latter I checked it again, It looked a little low so I
> added another quart. I think I may have put too much in because now it
> seems
> to be leaking like a siv. I went on a 100-mile trip and the whole back of
> the van was covered in little ATF specks. What will happen if you over
> fill
> the tranny with ATF????? Will it leak??? Thanks
>
>
> Danny C.
> '84 Westy (Vanny)
> '84 Deluxe (Blue Van)
>
>
>
>
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