If there is any reason to question the seal between the final drive and
the trans, I feel that using synthetic lube in the final drive is a good
idea; less problem if it gets into the trans and not so thick when cold.
  Even a small piece of lint in the wrong place in the governor can
cause shifting problems and of course the same goes for the valve body.

Larry A.

Frank Condelli wrote:

>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
>
>
>