I make no claims to be an expert on either issue, but have some knowledge.

I was told that there are rubber (?) seals inside the tranny that, with age,
get hard and don't seal as swell a they did when new.  It takes some time
for pressure to build up inside and hence, a bit of a delay dropping into
drive or reverse or shifting.  This can apparently be remedied (temporarily)
with one of several products which can be purchased at your FLAPS.  The
products all work by rejuvenating the seals a bit.

So far as your sticky starter,  There are others who can give more complete
information, but you are dealing with a sticky solenoid.  It'll get better
and worse, but you'll eventually need to replace it, too.  I'm not sure if
there is a workaround for the situation or not.

Karl Wolz

----- Original Message -----
From: "Timothy Lee Harrison" <tim@HARRISONLAND.CO.UK>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2001 1:38 AM
Subject: Delays: auto transmission and starter motor

> A few days ago, there was a post from M. Burha about the automatic
transmission
> hesitating before taking up drive.
>
> There doesn't seem to have been much response, but I was wondering
> if any listees have had any experience of this and what could be causing
it.
>
> In particular,  on a cold start the engine  starts and runs OK, but
> movement in either
> forward or reverse drive is ever soooooo slow! I only recently changed
> transmission
> fluid, but the trans works pervectly once it's been "revved" for about 30
> secs or so.
>
> Is this a problem that is likely to get worse (I've not had my bus for
> long) or will it just
> sit there and be one of those little idiosyncracies that I'll get used to?
>
> On another  topic, my starter motor does something similar: on a cold day,
> I turn the key
> and .... nothing. Lights come on, but no response whatsoever. Then, out of
> the blue,
> the darned thing turns the engine and starts. Starts every time, without
> fail (or at least it
> has up to now!), but there's often quite a delay between turning the key
> and the starter
> jumping into action.
>
> Again, is this likely to get worse, or just another idiosyncracy? Anyone
> know what causes
> behaviour?
>
> Tim (H) from the  sunny UK
>