Volks,

Last week while once again spending some time trying to fix my intermittent
fast and searching idle problems, I went to the next item on my long
checklist of potentially related problems and low and behold I fixed
something else.  I was checking to see if I had any exhaust leaks and found
a dandy one at the collector.  After having much fun creating flange
surfaces that wouldn't leak I fixed the leak.  All good.  As has always been
typical, the idle searching problem appeared to be gone.  In fact, it
appeared as though Barry was cooperating quite nicely.  However, having been
burnt before, I naturally assumed that the idle problems would rear their
ugly heads again as soon as the family tried to take a trip somewhere.  And
they did, but that is another story soon to be posted.  So much for the
history.   (oops sorry. '86 Wolfsburg Westy 2.1l automatic)

So we're out for a test drive and low and behold (here's where the magic
kicked in) the transmission is downshifting like it's supposed to for the
very first time since I've owned the van.  It's working flawlessly!  I can
kick it down!  It kicks itself down when necessary! It's awesome!  WOOOOO!
HOOOOO! (Homer Simpson voice)

I did absolutely nothing except fix the exhaust leak.

In the past I had been all through the kick down linkage, switch, etc. not
finding any problems or solutions.  As for the problem, Barry was always
inclined to shift into the next gear too quickly and it was nearly
impossible to kick it down a gear.  If it did kick down it would almost
immediately come back out again.  But now it's perfect.

So there you go.  Auto trany not down shifting correctly?  Check for an
exhaust leak.

Would someone like to try and explain why this worked?

Thanks for your time.

Jeff Warner
Galloway, OH
'86 Wolfy Westy
Other VW/Audi stuff gathering dust.