Volks, my travelling friends and customers, Gerry  & Sharon, who have spent
the last three years travelling around South  America in their '87 Westy are
now heading back toward Ottawa and are  experienceing a problem with the auto
tranny somewhere in Cost Rica ~  Nicaragua.  See their travel blog at
_www.travelpod.com/members/thymeoff_ (http://www.travelpod.com/members/thymeoff) .
What seems to be  occurring is that it will not shift up into top gear from cold
start until it  has been fully warmed up, usually about 5 km.  I advised them
to have the  fluid and filter changed.  I just received the following message.
  Anyone have an idea what may be happening here and what they should do ?
I'm thinking the valve body may have gotten crud in it.  Is that possible  ?

>>As for the transmission - yes,  it's automatic - I've had the filter and
ATF replaced twice on the trip. Once in  Buenos Aires, and most recently in
Bogota (again about 3,000 km ago) - when  I thought the gasket was leaking but it
turned out to be the seal between  the transmission and the final drive. So,
any other ideas why it might not  like to change up until it's warmed up
(generally now about 5km)? I'll check the  ATF level again to make sure that's okay
(engine at operating temperature and  running). I'm loathe to take it in
anywhere unless I can find a really good shop  specializing in automatic
transmission - maybe in Mexico? Really depends whether  it gets any worse.<<

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains (_Collection
for  sale_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
_Vanagon  Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10,  2007