Date:         Sun, 4 Feb 1996 03:22:33 -0500
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         SyncroHead@aol.com
Subject:      Re: Syncro: to lock or not to lock

In a message dated 96-02-02 20:29:45 EST,
Wiesner_Craig@mm.ssd.lmsc.lockheed.com (Wiesner Craig) writes:

>I just got this '86 Westfalia GL Syncro.  A lot of little thing were wrong
>with it and I am having them fixed.  No big deal.
>
>When I bought it the rear differential lock did not work.  I talked to a
>couple of mechanics and they told me that it is common for the servos to go
>bad and should be no problem to fix.
>
>Well the shop, which charges $70 per hour, has spent two hours and can only
>tell me that it is not the servo and that some thing is stuck.  They say
that
>they will have to tear open the transmission and have no idea what they will
>find.  They recommend that I drive without fixing.  That I will only need it
>if I get stuck and that the 4-WD works great.
>
>Anybody out there ever use there rear differential lock?  How much would it
>cost to replace the whole tranny?
>
>
Craig,
I have used the diff lock routinely when off-roading.  If you live in an area
where you get a lot of snow / ice or plan on off-roading the diff lock could
make quite a difference.  Pickup and SUV owners that want a diff lock
typically pay $600 to $1,000 (depending on variety) to have one installed.
 I'd get a second opinion before having the transmission opened.

Jim Davis
87 Syncro
88 Wolfsburg