Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2010 22:00:37 -0400
Reply-To: Edward Maglott <emaglott3@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Edward Maglott <emaglott3@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: My AT Rebuild
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
You may have read my posts over the past several months about my
on-and-off leaking torque converter. I finally decided to take the
van to a local transmission rebuilder and have him do the whole
thing. Everybody I talked to in my area recommended this shop. He
had recently done a very similar job on another 86 vanagon. I also
considered German Transaxle, either buying from them and installing
myself, or having a local VW wrench do the install for me, or taking
mine out and sending to GT for rebuilding. I decided I didn't want
to do it myself and have it go wrong and have to take it back out and
ship across the country, etc. Or have to pay wrench to take it back
out, etc.
So here's what I got:
$216 089 Overhaul kit
$294 Rebuilt Torque converter (they sent mine out because they
couldn't find a rebuilt one?)
$180 Piston Kit
$64 Band
$54 Bushing Kit
$34 Fluid
$975 Labor
$1882 total includes 12 month 20k mile warranty. I can add
another year and some more miles for another $188 if I want to.
He said to put 3-500 miles on it in the coming weeks and bring it
back for checkout and adjustments if needed. Here's what I found
wrong so far since getting it back:
Shifter needed adjusting, the vertical lever did not line up with the
PRND21 correctly and the lockout was not functioning properly. ie I
could pull back on lever without pushing button and get it into gear
1. Easy adjustment per bently fixed this immediately.
coolant hose from reservoir to overflow left disconnected. air in
reservoir. Once I reconnected it, it has now bled itself after a few
trips. I probably need to check the radiator for air, but it is
running fine temp-wise.
Cruise control linkage reinstalled wrong. I put it back right.
Cruise control speed sensor magnets on inboard CV joint no longer
firmly attached and sliding around. I removed, cleaned, glued and
wired them back in place.
Cruise control speed sensor wire not connected to sensor. I reattached.
Cruise control speed sensor wire caught under transmission bolt head
and mangled. I got it loose, cut, spliced, soldered, heat shrink tubed it.
I had put in the floor of the van, a previous AT and final drive that
I had, in case he needed parts. Apparently during the initial test
drive, the driver did some hard turns and braking. Damage to cabinet
door ahead of fridge, gear oil soaked carpet in that area and on the
back of the passenger and driver's seat pillars. When I left it with
them, the parts were at the rear of the floor on heavy tarps.
I found the Cruise control still disengaging randomly today. I bent
the sensor arm closer and better aligned to magnets, we'll see
tomorrow. I noticed what looked like black or gray RTV or other goop
in the joint between AT and Final drive. Is that OK? Before the
rebuild and actually ever since I've had this tranny, it's done
this: when cold, start engine and put in reverse right away,
slipping sensation. engine revs but rearward motion is limited. It
did that again today starting cold after work Also found today when
leaving work that the 1-2 and 2-3 shift points were higher than
"normal." 2-3 would not happen below 30mph even with lifting foot
off gas pedal. After 20 miles or so it was back to shifting at lower
speed with mild pressure on gas pedal.
Edward
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