Date:         Wed, 5 Jan 2000 13:13:27 -0600
Reply-To:     Chuck Hill <hilltech@NETINS.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chuck Hill <hilltech@NETINS.NET>
Subject:      Auto transmission
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

> Sean Birkner wrote:
>
> > Hey all,
> >      My '90 V'gon (w/auto tranny) has been having a problem lately. After it
> > has been sitting for a while (esp. overnight) when I put it in Drive or
> > reverse, take the parking brake off, and put my foot on the gas, the revs go
> > up, but thevan hardly moves....
>
> In my experience with this problem, the cause is a problem with the seal at the
> accumulator piston.  Sometimes the piston itself, which is plastic, is damaged,
> but ususally it's the rubber seal associated with it.  Take a look at 38.25 in
> the Bently manual.  The transmission is shown upside down, for clarity.
>
> You may be able to service this item yourself--I have.
>
>     1. drain the ATF by removing the pan on the transmission.  You'll want to
> loosen the big nut on the dipstick tube and move the tube to the side slightly.
>     2. remove the oil strainer cover, strainer, & gasket--if it comes easily at
> this point.
>     3. loosen the valve body.  Bently says 11 screws hold it in place
>     4. carefully lower the valve body from the transmission.
>     5.  the accumulator spring probably comes down with the valve body, but if
> not, pull it out.
>     6.  carefully pull downward on the accumulator piston, and it will come out.
>
> Examine the piston & assembly, look at the cylinder bore for "stuff".  If you
> see any, use something  like aerosol solvent to blast it clean.
>
> The last time I did this, a new accumulator w.seals was ~$30.00 US.
>
> FWIW, the Audi 5000 series, the A2 Golf/Jetta, & the Vanagon all use this same
> basic automatic, and suffer from the same occasional problems.  There are
> internal differences, but there is interchangability between the units as long
> as the part is an "upgrade".  The duty severity ranking would be Golf/Jetta >
> Vanagon > Audi > Audi "turbo".  Only 4 studs mount the transmission to the
> transaxle, it's no big deal to swap things around.  The transmission coolers
> come in different styles, or may be absent altogether.  They interchange as
> well.
>
> Chuck Hill