Date: Sat, 5 Nov 2011 21:57:51 -0400
Reply-To: pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Transmission Woes
In-Reply-To: <CAH3v19Kdk_F5rk4fL5cukB_661f2wmYZNGfrgzcfzubdNfLVoA@mail.gmail.com>
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I think this should be a failed/failing pilot bearing.
This would effectively prevent the clutch from ever being truly disengaged,
regardless of how well the clutch itself is working mechanically.
It means that with the engine off *and* the wheels stopped, you should be
able to shift fine, but with either moving at a speed very different from
the other, shifting requires very good rev-matching.
Being able to start with the clutch depressed is consistent with this,
since the failing pilot bearing can provide much less resistance than an
engaged clutch. It's enough resistance that the synchromeshes can't cope
with, but not so much that it prevents the engine from starting.
If this is what it is you want to avoid driving more with it failed because
you'll eventually mess up the shaft where it rides on the pilot bearing.
(Only time spent with the clutch pedal down counts against you.)
Might as well replace the clutch while you have the transmission out (if
you look around, there's some oil seal people like to replace at the same
time too), but my money is on the little pilot bearing.
On Sat, Nov 5, 2011 at 9:21 PM, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com> wrote:
> I have longstanding history of random transmission issues. Here's what's up
> this time.
>
> While driving today, I came to a stop light and put it in neutral. When I
> went to get going again it simply would not go into first (or second gear).
> Several tries and some rev matching of the engine finally got it and it ran
> fine for maybe 40 shifts. Then it did it again, won't go into any gear.
> That seems to me like it's a clutch related problem.
> So, I went and bled the clutch. It seems to have bled fine. There wan't
> really any air in there but the fluid coming out was shockingly dark.
>
> There is fluid in the transmission, i tired to add some and sure enough,
> it's full up (with good clean fluid, only a year or so old).
>
> It seems to come and go pretty randomly.
>
> I have tried pumping the clutch when it does it and can't really tell if
> this makes a difference or not. I have noticed though that When it does it,
> if I shut the engine off I can put it into a gear then fire the engine
> right back up just fine in gear (clutch in) and then it will work and shift
> as needed. This seems to conflict in my mind with the idea that the clutch
> is bad, or else it would have lurched when cranking in gear right?
>
> Any thoughts?
> This is an '85 vanagon GL that I turned into a Westfalia years ago, then
> recently turned back into a 7 passanger. It has a BOSTIG zetec engine and
> recently had a break line fail to rust (making me think a clutch line could
> have started leaking...).
>
> -Craig
> '85GL WESTY-7passanger
> ZETEC in the back
> '87 SUNROOF Syncro Westfalia
> '90 GL
>
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