Lucas Alves wrote:
>
> I took my '82 vanagon to a local VW shop for a check-up and received some
> rather disturbing news.  The van has an automatic-transmission and the guy
> mentioned that the transmission fluid was rather burned up.  He proceeded to
> make the statement that after 160k miles, the van would be needing a new
> trany within the next six months.  He recommended that I not get the fluid
> changed (to my surprise!!) for fear that it might introduce another variable
> into the system, and this might expedite the final transmission blow.
>
> Is this, in fact, a correct statement?

Yes, you are already on borrowed time with this tranny.

 How can you really tell if your
> transmission is about to go (what kind of diagnostics apply)?

Does it slip?  Does it shift through all the gears? Does the fluid
appear brown when you put a drop on a white paper towel?  Good fluid is
red, brown indicates burned, worn out fluid.

 Should I or
> should I not change the transmission fluid?

Sure, it won't hurt anything.  Most mechanics don't want to touch an old
unit like yours, figuring it will fail in six months anyway and you will
blame them.  Pretty standard operating procedure, and you really can't
blame them.  The money in their business is in quick, expensive repairs
to late model cars, not overhauling 19 year old transmissions.

Start saving your pennies!!!
>
> Lucas Alves
> loukaz@hotmail.com
> '82 Vanagon
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Stuart MacMillan
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