Date:         Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:40:12 -0400
Reply-To:     "aka.bugle" <aka.bugle@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "aka.bugle" <aka.bugle@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Which automatic transaxle (A/T) has the best chance of life
In-Reply-To:  <CAALwurnuPpJU3mwSjnGQoBvLe7SA8PhVo6bzOhxp_7crJRNxrQ@mail.gmail.com>
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I dropped the A/T pan and found about a 1/4 cup of black grit and flakes
(yum!) nothing  a magnet would get a hold of (yea!) and no coolant or
water... I cleaned the screen and pan ,reassembled, then filled with 12 oz
of Lucas Transmedic ( supposed to have cleansers in it) and about 2.5
quarts of Dex III. Test drive in the Endless Mtns here, all is well as far
as driving. I ordered the A/T seal kit, the 2 back to back final drive
seals, and for good measure, the 2 final drive axle shaft seals. I'm going
to flush this puppy out good, then pull it and replace the seals. Any
gotchas on the back to back seals?

On Sun, Sep 23, 2012 at 9:23 AM, aka.bugle <aka.bugle@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello All,
>   I drove the Van hard last year and the A/T was developing some
> weirdnesses (clunking going into reverse, and tempermental about shifting
> into 3rd)
>   I finally got around to swapping out the A/T with a spare from my parts
> Van (that I recall having no problems with the unit) I put in a new torque
> converter seal, screen, the paper gasket under the screen, and a pan
> gasket. The unit was working fine for about a week, short trips, Then I
> took a trip to Quakertown (about 300 miles round trip down the turnpike
> doing 65+mph) The next day, the van started slipping severely in the hills
> (everywhere here!) then refused to catch ANY gear at all. After sitting on
> the side of the road contemplating which towing company to call, I started
> the van back up and NOW it decides to shift fine! ??????????????? I drive
> about 2 miles on the flat, it loses forward motion again. I let it sit for
> about a half an hour and try again, thinking if I make it home (about 8
> miles) it'll save me the tow charge and I'll get a little more diagnosis. I
> made it home!
>   The ATF maybe high (I have to check the gear oil to see if its low )
>
> Soooooooo.... Which A/T would you think has the best chance of a simple
> minor repair?
>
>  Also does anyone know what the marks on the atf dipstick mean, in other
> words, when the engine is running, I'm guessing the torque converter is
> full and the valve body is just covered ( the reason I ask this, is
> because, I have a Volvo engine in this van, and had to put a minor bend in
> the atf dipstick tube for engine clearances).
>
> --
> Best Regards,
>                           ~david
>
>


--
Best Regards,
                          ~david