Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2025 08:41:40 -0400
Reply-To: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Auto transmission not shifting question
In-Reply-To: <CA+PsB=V0cV50fNR=bjB3xf7xuCRcOzSK=VBNoJtbYHixG0b41w@mail.gmail.com>
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Thanks Ray,
Your situation is different and sounds like you have many miles on the trans. Mine is newly rebuilt. I’m hopeful that the issue is the shifter needing to be checked as it usually happens at the start of a trip when trans is first moved into drive. Or one time when moved from 2 into Drive. Now that we are aware of the possible issue with the shifter the no shift to third seems to have stopped. But, more trips are needed to double check this.
How many miles on your trans?
The really unusual behavior seems to be how you get into reverse.
Eric Caron
85 auto
> On Jul 21, 2025, at 10:12 PM, Ray Brubaker <rayandmerle@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> I'm living with a long standing problem of mine not shifting into 3rd when
> it is hot. If I back off the power, it will shift and then I can apply
> power again and it will stay in 3rd. It also sometimes needs a little blip
> of the throttle to get it to go into reverse and then it goes in hard. In
> 2018 I spoke with a trans overhaul shop about this and whether to try an
> additive like Lucas. He said the additives are good now and it would be
> worth a try. I changed the fluid and added Lucas. It helped for a while but
> the problem has returned. It will always shift when I let off the power and
> let the RPM drop about 1000. The torque converter is slinging a small
> amount of fluid so there is a seal leak there, so my tranny is tired.. I
> don't usually drive it far these days.
>
> Ray
>
> On Fri, Jul 18, 2025 at 10:57 PM Dug Smith <dug@dugbert.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Eric,
>>
>> I had a similar behaviour when a seal in the torque converter failed.
>>
>> I would say make sure it's actually in Drive rather than looking like
>> it's in Drive but it's actually in 2.
>>
>> Low or dirty fluid could do that too, but if the fluid level's low,
>> where did it go?
>>
>> On 7/18/2025 19:50, Eric Caron wrote:
>>> Hi folks,
>>>
>>> Today we set out in the 85 Auto for a short trip. A little way
>> from home I noticed that the transmission had not shifted into third gear
>> even though we were moving at 38,000 RPM and 45 mph.
>>>
>>> This happened yesterday morning as well but we thought it was driver
>> error. And, looking back, it happened a couple weeks ago.
>>> Any thoughts as to why the transmission would not change to third gear?
>>>
>>> It so far only happens once at the start of a trip.
>>>
>>> I’ll get it hot and check transmission fluid level tomorrow.
>>>
>>> Not sure if fluid level could even be a factor.
>>>
>>> Any tips or suggestions appreciated.
>>>
>>> Eric Caron
>>> 85 Auto
>>
>> toodle pip,
>> --
>> Dug Smith | Terry Pratchett: It's almost
>> (mailto:dug@dugbert.com) | impossible to ride a rock and roll
>> (http://www.dugbert.com) | motorbike and stay on for three verses.
>>
| 
