Date:         Mon, 14 Jun 1999 14:06:13 GMT
Reply-To:     Herb Smith <herbs@MAIL.WEST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Herb Smith <herbs@MAIL.WEST.NET>
Subject:      Re: expected lifetime for transmission?
In-Reply-To:  <001f01beb38d$c9527ea0$c801a8c0@oradba.Infintium>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

On Thu, 10 Jun 1999 15:08:36 -0700, Steve Macaulay
<smacaulay@INFINTIUM.COM> wrote:

>>
>> What should one expect the lifetime of a Vanagon manual transmission
>> to be? I know it varies according to ones driving habits, terrain,
>> etc., but *roughly*, how long? I've got an '87 Westy with 112,000
>> miles and the manual transmission is gone; should I be surprised?
>>
>
>I like to also hear about the expected lifetime of a Vanagon automatic
>transmission if anyone has any thoughts to share.

We have a 90 Westie GL with 155K miles on the original automatic
transmission and engine.  No major transmission work to date or any
funny symptoms yet although more "oil" is starting to show up on the
driveway and transmission was down about a quart a week ago.  I'll
need to keep an eye on it as something may be starting to leak
big-time.  

The engine seems to be nearing the end of it's usefull life with
mileage dropping to 12-14mpg from 17-18mpg for the first 140K miles.
There is also a general increase in valve and engine noise level at
low rpm.  Have had to replace one head and a engine main bearing (main
bearing leak was owner induced as I tried to drive through a really
deep mud hole up in the mountians and really jarred the VW-HARD).  So
there is a new engine in the near future and I'm "lurking" on the
discussions regarding engine swaps.

I do have a transmission question also, but first a statement.  We
plan to drive the VW another 150K miles (at least), so the question is
what is recommended for transmission work when we replace the engine.
I could do the engine swap myself if I want to put in the time but a
automatic transmission rebuild is way past my knowledge level or
access to special tools.  I've got the factory manual but.............

If a rebuild is needed I would need a shop in So. Cal.  Unless that is
I take it up north and have the engine swapped and transmission
rebuilt at the same time.  Sure would like some input on this.

Thanks in Advance.

Herb
'90 Westy GL, Auto, 155K miles (always run at high rpm in the
mountains and hills-lots of 2nd gear time)