Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2012 22:29:01 -0400
Reply-To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Automatic Trasmission Question
In-Reply-To: <BAY162-W12989EDDF6B77BBB118EA8AE710@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
The governor is a rather simple device. If you pull it out you should be
able to see if there is any obvious problem. It is mounted on the
differential/bell housing section, up on the side under the round cover
that is held on by a heavy wire bail. You may encounter serious rust
there, depending the environment the van has endured.
As the rotation of the governor speeds up, it allows more ATF to flow
thru which triggers shifting. If the orifice is blocked by sludge, gunk,
or lint, this doesn't happen. Check and clean if needed.
The O-ring around the governor cover is a popular source of leakage. Be
careful with it and replace if necessary.
Good luck,
Larry A.
On Mon, Oct 15, 2012 at 7:34 PM, william landsman <unclebeer@hotmail.com>wrote:
> 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.
>
>
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