Date:         Tue, 9 Dec 2014 15:47:43 -0500
Reply-To:     Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: AT question
In-Reply-To:  <007701d013e3$3fd6f3a0$bf84dae0$@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Thanks all for the comments so far.  One of the attractive things about
this van is its (relatively) low miles, 127,500.  This is reflected in the
tight and solid feel of the steering and suspension.
   The slippage was the same before and after I did the fluid change.  The
fluid that came out did not appear to be contaminated with gear oil.  I am
quite aware of that issure and I am alert for any evidence of it when I
change the fluid on my daily driver.
   In driving this van off and on for a couple of weeks, I have tried to
monitor whether the slippage is related to ambient temperature and have not
come to a definite conclusion.  It seems, however, to just be a question of
time since it was last driven.

When I get time, I suspect that I will try cleaning the valve body or
perhaps swapping it with one from a back-up trans that I have waiting.  I
cleaned the valve body successfully on an '84 that I had about 15 years
ago.  What fun...

Larry A.


On Tue, Dec 9, 2014 at 2:06 PM, Jeff Schwaia <vw.doka@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hey Larry,
>
> Let me guess... around 200k miles on the transmission?   If so, the seals
> and pistons in the transmission are worn and will not start working
> properly until they heat up and expand to create a better seal.  Very
> common...
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Larry Alofs
> Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2014 8:55 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: AT question
>
> Volks,
>   I have been working on a rather nice '91 GL, soon to be for sale.  The
> last issue is the transmission.  If the van has not been driven for a
> couple of days, the transmission is reluctant to get going at first.  When
> I shift into drive or reverse I can feel it engage, but the vehicle moves
> very little until I run it at 2500 rpm or so for about 30 seconds.
>   Once it starts to pull, it works fine for the rest of the day, shifting
> smoothly at appropriate speeds, etc.
> I have tried a dose of Seafoam followed by a fluid and screen change.
> This approach has worked well for me on other types of vehicles with the
> same problem, but not this time.
>
> Can anyone offer a considered opinion about the cause of this problem?
> Will I have to go into the trans itself, or is there some hope of a remedy
> by changing the torque convertor or governor or cleaning the valve body?
>
> Larry A.
> W. Michigan
>
>