In a message dated 4/19/05 11:44:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
dmcc@DIMENSIONAL.COM writes:

> Fluid level is good, maybe a bit high,

DANGER WARNING SIGN RIGHT THERE!!!

high ATF level and the symptoms you describe could mean the seal between the
differential and automatic part is failing, gear oil from the diff is leaking
into, and contaminating the Automatic trans part making the ATF level go up,
and look brownish red..    have you checked your diff fluid?  (17mm hex nut)
this happened on another vanagon i had.
ATF was a brownish red color (should be bright red) and level was really
high.
checked the diff and there was almost NO diff fluid in there...it had all
leaked into the auto trans from that seal that failed..

do the ATF service, change the screen, add new fluid, and if your problem
repeats itself then your looking at dropping/splitting the trans and resealing
it..

chris