Date:         Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:28:53 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <garciasghostvw@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <garciasghostvw@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Auto Transmission Fail (Pics)
In-Reply-To:  <AANLkTilsxWgAGlMYfiO34q15iAjn_HTmc6xmbT9zezSW@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I dunno what the sarcasm is all about but my understanding of the two
transmissions (from reading this list; I've never had a manual transmission
Vanagon) is that a driveway mechanic of average competence can rebuild an
auto while it takes a shop with the proper tools to work on the internals of
the manual (not the clutch, pressure plate, etc.)

The auto has a reputation for being "bulletproof" (or maybe it did before I
came along). This one I was just dealing with went ~250K before its first
rebuild and then another 140K before the second with at least one major
overheating incident during the latter, among other issues. That's a lot of
miles to rack up before its first hard part failure.

The other one I had died at around 123K some time after a major overheat.
The failure on that one came from a thrust washer splitting in half. Others
have reported what I would consider high mileage without incident. Clearly
abuse takes its toll.

I'm not saying one is better than the other; they each have their pros and
cons. From reading the list I get the idea that anyone that hasn't done the
3/4 slider mod is sitting on a time bomb, for instance. I wouldn't want to
drive across the country waiting for that to happen either.

I don't think my experiences are representative of the typical performance
of the auto tranny and I wouldn't advise anyone to judge them based on that.


Cya,
Robert

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
David White
Sent: Monday, July 19, 2010 9:42 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Auto Transmission Fail (Pics)

If nothing else I want to thanks you boys for convincing me that the
auto to manual transmission conversion I have been contemplating for
the past few months has been worth it. I don't underestimate your
competence in the auto transmission field, but I would much rather
troubleshoot a manual (or simply carry a spare) in the event that I
have something like a massive failure such as this. It definitely
sounds like it takes a simple idiot (such as I) to change a manual,
whereas it takes an artisan (such as you) to deal with an automatic. I
can't wait to start pulling that auto this weekend. Let all know, a
very cheap, used, automatic transmission will be available for pickup
very soon in Idaho. It still works, but scares me too much to make the
drive across the lower 48 this fall. Linkage and whatnot included. A
case of PBR tallboys is all it will cost you.