As for 'someone who knows what they're doing', I'd say that was you. You've
gone this far, you may well have to take it out again, so... I bet the whole
thing will take you no more than 60% of the time it took you the first time.
You already bought the tools and when it works you get your confidence back,
get to play the hero, all that. : )

I agree it sounds like you may be better going of with the pro rebuild. Get
it done with and get it off your back. As I said before, even if some of the
other things work they're probably only band-aids on the way to a rebuild
anyway.

I understand that the differential is expensive to rebuild but rarely needs
it- somebody will correct me if I'm wrong, or add their two cents. If you
had no issues with the old one I suppose I'd go with the one I know. Check
the archives; especially look for the procedure for changing the fluid if
you decide to do that (you probably should).

You said the original tranny was leaking badly... I don't guess it's
important but I'm curious what you mean by that and how that led you to want
to replace it? I'm thinking that if I had a spare tranny for my vehicle I'd
probably hang onto it, maybe get into it myself for rebuilding if I had the
time, etc. I believe there were far fewer autos to begin with and they're
obviously not making any more.

Good luck,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "al sinclair" <alvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2005 8:56 PM
Subject: Re: replaced tranny but no move. What next?

thanks Robert and John

I didn't change the filter (it's not insulting to ask -- I'm very ignorant)
but did replace the fluid. I'll check Bentley about the valve body but
feeling rather dispirited may skip attempting to fix that. I used the TC
that came with the "assumed good" tranny, so it's an unknown too -- I didn't
think to use the TC I took out (the replacement tranny came with the TC
wired to it.)

The rebuilt tranny source John referred me to (back in Sept, before I went
the cheapie "assumed good" route) was German Transaxle of America in Bend,
OR (http://www.gtainc.biz/.)  I've emailed them for a quote and will
probably get a unit from them, and then maybe get the *&^% thing installed
by someone who knows what they're doing.  And I'll maintain it lovingly with
delicious synthetics!  (And also will try and get the $200 back for the
"assumed good"-but-prolly-not one.)

How about the diff?  The diff on the tranny I took out seemed fine.  The
diff on the "assumed good" could be anything so I won't use that.  Should I
splurge for a rebuilt diff as well as the auto box?

----- Original Message -----
From: "al sinclair" <alvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2005 8:56 PM
Subject: Re: replaced tranny but no move. What next?

thanks Robert and John

I didn't change the filter (it's not insulting to ask -- I'm very ignorant)
but did replace the fluid. I'll check Bentley about the valve body but
feeling rather dispirited may skip attempting to fix that. I used the TC
that came with the "assumed good" tranny, so it's an unknown too -- I didn't
think to use the TC I took out (the replacement tranny came with the TC
wired to it.)

The rebuilt tranny source John referred me to (back in Sept, before I went
the cheapie "assumed good" route) was German Transaxle of America in Bend,
OR (http://www.gtainc.biz/.)  I've emailed them for a quote and will
probably get a unit from them, and then maybe get the *&^% thing installed
by someone who knows what they're doing.  And I'll maintain it lovingly with
delicious synthetics!  (And also will try and get the $200 back for the
"assumed good"-but-prolly-not one.)

How about the diff?  The diff on the tranny I took out seemed fine.  The
diff on the "assumed good" could be anything so I won't use that.  Should I
splurge for a rebuilt diff as well as the auto box?