Robert, I don't know about the transmission - it's probably toast - but
a good compression test on the engine will tell a great deal about the
condition of things.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Robert Keezer wrote:

>Hello friends- me again with a question about a
>friends 87 GL automatic.
>
>The family has been running the car for a long
>time with the overheat/level warning light
>flashing constantly. They told me they put water
>in it every day. I replaced the water pump and
>the t-stat housing (which was heat-warped).
>
>The transmission clunks into second harshly. I
>suspect the auto trans .
>
>I tolds them that chronic overheating from
>running low on water shortens engine and auto
>trans life.
>
>Yet i have never hear this squeal from a Vanagon
>before, so maybe some of you have.
>
>It's not the belts. In neutral there is a lot of
>clunking noises coming fromm the trans.
>
>None of this would be happening if my friend had
>pulled over when the red light flashed 4 years
>ago. He limped it home without water, though he
>put some in every few miles. (the hose at the
>radiator had come off).
>
>It blew the head gaskets from the overheating,
>then he had me help him do the head gaskets-but ,
>I never did this before, so I did it wrong and
>with the wrong glue. They are leaking again.
>
>I think he should get another trans and engine .
>What do you think about the noise?
>
>Robert Keezer
>
>1982 Westfalia inline -four powered
>
>
>
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