Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2012 23:48:31 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Automatic Trasmission Question
In-Reply-To: <BAY162-W12989EDDF6B77BBB118EA8AE710@phx.gbl>
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Failure to up shift when cold is usually a sign of insufficient system
pressure. The most common cause is internal leakage of a piston or maybe the
accumulator seal. When the pistons warm up they will seal again. You can
sometimes nurse it for real long time but at some point an overhaul is in
order. Depending on what is leaking the failure will move from shift failure
to clutch pack slipping. This makes a lot of heat. You can heed the warnings
and repair it at your leisure.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
william landsman
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2012 7:35 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Automatic Trasmission Question
Hello,
I have a 1990 Westy with very similar problem to the info I found below.
For my van it usually takes anywhere from .5 miles to 1 mile to shift into
2nd gear. It is also usually after a few days of non-use. If I drive one day
and then the next it will be fine about half the time. I recently changed
the transmission fluid and changed the screen, and seems the same if not a
little better than before.
1. If it is a defective Automatic Transmission Governor (Where do you find
these?) 2. If the governor is dirty/gunked up (How do you go about cleaning
it?)
Any help on the above questions would be great.
Regards,
Bill
Problem - "My '87 Westy automatic transmission operates well after about 2
miles, but will not shift into drive during the first mile or two of travel.
This is only a problem on the initial trip per time period, ie. if the
tranny is warm from recent travel it shifts fine."
Capt. Mike, Moderator, 10-25-2000 08:05 AM
Nice of VW to leave it out of the Vanagon edition of the Bentley, but the
older Type II edition has an excellent troubleshooting chart for A/T's.
Section 7-3.1.a.
Although your symptom could come from several causes, the prime suspect is
#7: "Transmission stays in 1st gear with lever at 2 or D." Their probably
cause is a. Governor dirty or defective; b. Valve body assembly dirty.
There are a couple of others that may also be applicable.
I'm not too versed on A/T's but that you got an improvement with a screen
cleaning and Dexron III change is encouraging. Tranny fluids do contain
cleaning additives and if you have a blocked or sticky valve, it's possible
it will work out as varnish dissolves or the piece of trash breaks free and
moves to the filter. You might check with a reputable tranny shop to see if
there's a safe and effective tranny cleaner additive. One that you can put
in, run the specified miles, then drain and refill with fresh Dexron.
Do check your vacuum connections. A slight leak or deficiency, compounded by
cold oil could leave you with incorrect vacuum until things warm up and
seal.
Like oil changes in a gunked up engine, several changes in a short sequence
could clear you out. Hope so rather than have to pull the tranny for a valve
plate cleaning or worse.
