Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (July 2010, week 5)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:13:26 -0500
Reply-To:     Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject:      Re: 5sp trans woes
Comments: To: Robert Downes <bobdownes@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <AANLkTi=hcBFqkE9H2Q6F+_GjnXKb8BYEWm1pZBDM_CVg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Robert,

Why do people drive something with a known problem until it fails?

My youngest brother drove a Mazda 626 with bad brakes until one of the caliper pistons popped out. Then he drove it to my house for me to "fix" using only the hand brake because he had no brakes!!!!

He complained that the "fix" cost too much because he had to by new brakes, new rotors and a new caliper.

The pads would have cost him $19.00 six months earlier!!!!!

You need to tear into it now and not when it fails. Wait until it fails and you don't know what additional hard parts you will be paying for!!!!

Tom www.towercooler.com

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of Robert Downes Sent: Saturday, July 31, 2010 4:24 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: 5sp trans woes

so, i started hearing a hum that got louder as my speed increases, and then gets quieter around 45mph. i thought maybe my CV joints had reached a breaking point? hoped that my transmission, which was rebuilt not toooo long ago by a PO, did not decide to spontaneously bust itself. i decided to change the trans fluid, and when i took out the magnetic plug...there's a piece of stamped metal and a single ball bearing stuck to it. the ball bearing was maybe 4mm,here is a picture of the metal piece<http://imgur.com/V15Vi.jpg>. i could not identify which bearing this might be from in the bentley diagram. the van still runs fine, just makes noise. do i need to tear the thing apart? i'm in Alaska for the summer, and if this is going to have to be done, i should probably do it pretty soon, but if i can make it south to civilization this fall on what i've got, i'm sure i'd end up saving some precious summer work dollars.

basically, i've been trying to drive it alot to see if i can make it fail. i work for a tour boat company and i could probably talk our mechanic into helping me tear it apart, he's familiar with vanagons...what do you guys think? what is the best source in the northwest for parts? tell me what i need to hear, list.

thanks in advance -bob

PS, while this message was pending, i've learned that this transmission is somewhat rare, the code is DX, it's the 5 speed diesel trans.


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.