A defective torque converter will cause the lack of low speed
acceleration. The lack of high speed sounds like an engine performance
issue. If manually changing gears to allow the engine to rev higher
increases performance, than the torque converter is suspect. The Bentley
has a stall test procedure that will help diagnose the condition.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of Vanagon man
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 8:47 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: What are syptoms of a bad torque converter

I have a rebuilt engine in a 81 vanagon I have had for  a while.
Everything
is tuned, good vacuum, CO, etc.

The van is a dog, though.  Do not feel any slipping in trans, but real
slow
to accelerate, and low top end speeds.  ( I have driven other
automatics, so
I know this one is WAYY below the norm)

The trans has new fluid, and i did clean the screen.......not much of
anything in the screen.   Kickdown is set correctly, so I know it is not
a
linkage issue.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Adam P
81  Westy "The Brick "
70 Single Cab "Whitey"
74 Beetle "Ol Yeller"
73 Transporter (STILL at paint shop)
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
1976 Transporter (New CA bus)
1974 412 "Goldmember"
Used Vanagon Parts for sale (mostly aircooled)