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<P>I guess I should mention I see the atf fluid spit up on the coolant hose when viewing the engine from above the engine, on the left at the rear, some gathers in a pool on the case itself, well I don't actually see it spit up, I just see the result of it<BR><BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;From: Larry Alofs <LALOFS@ENTERACT.COM>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Sounds like you're looking at the governor. It's on the final drive
<DIV></DIV>&gt;section near one of the axles. Even tho its mounted on the differential
<DIV></DIV>&gt;housing it is part of the transmission control system. ATF flows thru
<DIV></DIV>&gt;it; the rate of flow is regulated by the speed that it is driven by the
<DIV></DIV>&gt;gears in the final drive. The valve body (the control unit in the trans)
<DIV></DIV>&gt;uses this information to decide when to shift.
<DIV></DIV>&gt;The governor could certainly be a possible source of ATF leakage in that
<DIV></DIV>&gt;area; I believe there are some O-ring type seals involved. If you pry
<DIV></DIV>&gt;the spring out of the way, you can pull it out. Be careful about dirt.
<DIV></DIV>&gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Larry A.
<DIV></DIV>&gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Mark Dorm wrote:
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; I have read everyones response so far, and I know about the differential and
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; the 17mm and how that stuff has a sick smell to it ie not healthy, its just
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; that big round thing with the wire clamp on it that puzzles me, the trannie
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; level is always just fine....
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;From: Marla Stelk <MJSTELK@HOTMAIL.COM>
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Reply-To: Marla Stelk <MJSTELK@HOTMAIL.COM>
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Subject: Re: ATF and Final Drive
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2002 18:25:41 -0500
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt; Hi Mark - unfortunately I have been learning more about the final drive
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;and tranny than I ever wanted to know - or at least not by breaking down
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;repeatedly. The final drive is part of the differential. You have gear
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;oil in there that is thick and stinky. The two should never mix (unless
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;you are driving my personal sh** box - ha ha - "i love my van, i love my
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;van, i love my van....). To check your gear oil level in the final drive,
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;you have to remove a 17mm bolt on the side of it (passenger side for an
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;'87). The oil level should be just below the hole. If you are leaking
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;tranny fluid, you should check to see if the hoses on the cooler above it
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;are tight. You may have a slow ATF leak, but I would still try to trouble
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;shoot where its coming from because it will only get worse over time and
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;you don't want to replace your tranny any sooner than you need to - trust
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;me on this. It may be the seal on you tranny pan is leaking if its old.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Talk to Ken at Van Again - he sells a tranny filter and gasket kit and he
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;could walk you through how to replace it if necessary. Just make sure you
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;do not get any dirt into it - very bad. Or even easier - have your VW
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;mechanic replace it for you.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Good luck-
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Peace,
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Marla
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;'87 Westy Van "Morrison"
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;----- Original Message -----
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;From: Mark Dorm
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2002 10:51 PM
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Subject: ATF and Final Drive
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;I have this leak. Its red and it doesn't smell strong. So its not the oil
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;and its not the differential. It must be the ATF. However, the ATF level is
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;always just fine. So does the dipstick for the ATF not reflect the level in
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;the final drive?
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;I'm not even sure what the final drive is, although I bet Robert Blake's Ex
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;could.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;I've looked at that wide disc with a swing clamp over it, which I think is
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;the final drive, or the cover for it. Never have removed it though, not
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;sure what will happen if I do.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;
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