Date:         Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:52:50 -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 question--slipping
Comments: To: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

I don't see any replies yet, so here's mine.

you check the ATF level with the engine running, trans in Park, van sitting
fairly level, and warmed up is better.

It's very important not to overfill any automatic transmission !

also........there is a separate section for the ring and pinion gear oil.
Takes a 17 mm allen to remove the filler/level plug.

I'd be concerned about this trans.
It can be somewhat normal to have minor slipping, for 30 seconds or so on a
very cold trans, or one that has sat a week or so.
But what you have .........
I'd drop the pan and see what's in there.
if it's not full of junk, or sludge, or metal particles or obviously wasted
there, I'd clean or replace the screen,
try new ATF,. and perhaps a can of Trans-X, and see what happens when you
run it next.

be sure the ball pivot at the rear end of the throttle cable on the lever on
the side of the trans is smooth turning ............as in not jammed or
rusted.
It's a bit hard to get to or see very well, but those can rust and not
pivot, possibly causing shifting up problems.

scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Felder" <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 6:24 AM
Subject: Automatic transmission question--slipping


> My daughter's 91 automatic has been behaving fine, but recently I
> noticed a little spotting on the back hatch, which led me to check the
> AT fluid level and it was a little bit low.
>
> When I mentioned it to her, she said that the car had recently been
> doing a weird thing starting off. The engine would race, sometimes
> barking the tires when things engaged. At a stop sign, rather than
> keeping the car at the line on a hill, the slack in the transmission
> sometimes--randomly--lets the car roll back a few feet before it will
> "catch" again.
>
> I have never had a vanagon with an AT. What's the proper procedure for
> checking the level? The owners manual gives some detail but does not
> even specify whether the car is to be running or not when the level is
> checked.
>
> Anything else I should be considering?
>
> Jim