Normally, 30K service intervals are appropriate. The fluid should only
break down from excessive heat and there is no normal contamination
until the clutch linings start to fail.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Oda [mailto:craigoda@communitybuilders.info]
Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2003 6:44 PM
To: Dennis Haynes
Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: Re: lack of power when cold

Dennis,
the automatic transmission service kit is $12.45 from VolksCafe.
Cheap.  How often do I have to change this?  Actually, how often do I
need to change my AT fluid in general?

About a year ago, my transmission burned out on a dirt road way up near
a mountain lake in northern california.  I had the transmission replaced

at a shop in a city with a population of about 60 people.  Nice story I
could tell here involving lack of rooms and rental cars due to
duck-hunting season, but I won't go into the details.

-- Craig

Dennis Haynes wrote:

>Yes, there is a filter. You need to remove the pan from the ATF
section.
>The filter is then located above that weird metal plate secured with 2
>philips head screws. Get a filter and gasket kit.
>
>Dennis
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Craig Oda [mailto:craigoda@communitybuilders.info]
>Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2003 5:35 PM
>To: Dennis Haynes
>Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: lack of power when cold
>
>AT fluid filter?   You mean, there's a filter?   Yikes!   Where is this

>beastie?
>
>Craig - 83.5 waterboxer
>
>Dennis Haynes wrote:
>
>
>
>>Wouldn't be the final drive. It is either there or it isn't, Noisy or
>>not. The automatic section is either slipping or it is not
up-shifting.
>>First, change the fluid and clean or replace the filter. A clogged
>>filter will keep things from working when the fluid is cold. If that
is
>>not the problem, then you are probably looking at some repair work.
>>
>>Dennis
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
Behalf
>>Of Dan Erlandson
>>Sent: Monday, October 06, 2003 9:34 PM
>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>Subject: lack of power when cold
>>
>>So... my wife tells me that the van has started exhibiting a new
>>problem...
>>what else is new...
>>
>>The van starts fine (when cold and hot) , but my wife tells me that
>>there is
>>a definite lack of power when she starts heading  up the road in the
>>morning.  Not so much a lack of engine power because she says the
RPM's
>>are
>>getting up there on the tach, but the van just isn't moving very fast.
>>She
>>pulled off to the side of the road  this morning, let it idle a bit
and
>>then
>>when she started out again the van was fine.  Sort of sounds like a AT
>>or
>>final drive issue (91 GL with A/C and AT) since the engine is
>>
>>
>responding
>
>
>>and
>>the RPM's are up there, but the power isn't getting to the wheels?
>>Think I
>>might get out there tonight and check the final drive level.  I am
>>confident
>>about the AT level, but will check that too (van started and in
>>
>>
>neutral,
>
>
>>no?).  What do you all think?  Thanks for the input
>>
>>Dan Erlandson
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>