Date:         Sat, 16 Jul 2011 18:36:57 -0500
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Automatic transmission question
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I have a 91 Vanagon GL automatic that my daughter drives. I've done a little
work on it over the last year or so and it is in pretty good, reliable
shape. The one thing that is giving me some trouble is the automatic
transmission. If you can help me with that, read on.

I have driven Vanagons for 20 years or more, but I have never had an
automatic transmission. I have done about everything you can do to a
vanagon, almost, except mess with an automatic transmission and though my
wife has had them on her non-vanagon cars, I have never had an automatic
Vanagon. I just recently learned how to check the fluid level in them. I
know virtually nothing about them. My daughter's car is leaking AT fluid so
that it has to be topped up once a month or so.

So I have two questions. One, what should I do, in general, to the automatic
transmission just to keep it in good shape? What are the preventive
maintenance best practices? Two, what should I do specifically about the
loss of fluid; what is a "usual suspects" list of things to address?

Thanks,

Jim