Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2012 10:42:31 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.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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The clunking noises may indicate a problem in the final drive assembly. The
no drive after warm up indicates an internal leak problem such as a bad
piston or accumulator. Does it have reverse?
Once out and the auto part separated from the final drive overhaul is
somewhat easy. Regardless of what is wrong the labor is the same. Just the
parts needed change and on these units if open one up I do the full master
rebuild with all the clutches, steels, seals, pistons etc. I would also
consider a rebuilt torque converter since that is where all the wear stuff
and debris goes due to the centrifugal action. They also do fail.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
aka.bugle
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2012 9:23 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Which automatic transaxle (A/T) has the best chance of life
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
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