Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2011 17:29:11 -0700
Reply-To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Transmission woes in PA
In-Reply-To: <CABFYqGarkKDzah-KdLwzJc574Wf69NiRzpSEK-QR1_cLQ36cWg@mail.gmail.com>
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Three years ago on a cross-country trip in my 85 Vanagon with 180,000 miles at the time, I too had shifting problems like you're describing. Turns out it was the slave cylinder. The evidence was oil pooled up in the rubber boot by the slave cylinder (according to the mechanic I found in Rochester, NY). List wisdom says to usually change both at the same time....the new master cylinder will blow out the seals in the slave cylinder. Or something like that. I'm not a mechanic or guru at all. Just telling what happened to me. Anyway, once the slave was replaced ($220 parts and labor as I recall), everything's been fine for 3 years.
Rich
San Diego
--- On Sun, 10/16/11, Jim Lieb <jlieberie@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
From: Jim Lieb <jlieberie@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Transmission woes in PA
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Sunday, October 16, 2011, 5:01 PM
Well, I hope this isn't going to be as bad as I think it might be. I'm
experiencing problems with my 1987 Westy. I had the clutch master cylinder
changed about a week ago because it was leaking. The van has been driving
great all summer until the last couple of days. I noticed that it was
becoming harder and harder to get in to 1st gear. Usually if I'm crawling,
like at a stop light I can ease it in to gear just fine. As it became more
difficult I found that I had to come to a complete stop to get it into gear
and a few times as I drove I had to really floor the clutch for a smooth
shift. On the way home from work I stopped at a stop sign and the shifter
would not go into first at all. I got it into second and proceeded from
there and at the next stop it wouldn't go in 1st or 2nd. I put it in third,
got it going, downshifted to 2nd and drove the last two blocks to my home.
As I pulled up in front of my house and parked it I tried to shift and it
would not go in to any gear and if I tried reverse the gears were still
turning (grind, grind) even with the clutch to the floor. Any ideas or help
before I call the garage?
--
Jim in NW Pa.
Member: PVC Pittsburgh Vanagon Club
1987 Vanagon Westfalia Camper
Member: Toyota Land Cruiser Association #15764
1982 FJ40
2007 FJ Cruiser
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