My memory is rather weak on this, but it seems to me that the AT I was
putting in my '84 once seemed like it was trying to be in reverse and low at
the same time.  A thorough cleaning of the valve body solved it.

Larry A.

On Fri, Jul 18, 2008 at 3:19 PM, John Carpenter <Trvlr2001@comcast.net>
wrote:

> Hi Ken,
> If you don't get her going, send me a p-mail.
> I've got a good use auto tranny
> I can let go reasonably.
> best,
> John
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: aatransaxle <daryl@AATRANSAXLE.COM>
>
> > If I bemember correctly from 10 yrs ago...there is a plunger unit that
> sits
> > right above the valve body...If that fails, all the van will do is lock
> up
> > in Rev..or feel like it because the plunger (can't think of its real
> name)
> > holds pressure to keep the Rev clutch pack disengaged. If it leaks, the
> van
> > will feel like its trying to go into rev all the time.
> > I know this info is scetchy, but it is a very easy fix if thats the
> case..
> > Daryl of AA Transaxle
> > (425) 788-4070
> > aatransaxle.com
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Stuart MacMillan"
> > To:
> > Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2008 9:49 PM
> > Subject: Re: Replaced auto tranny doesn't work. Advice needed!
> >
> >
> > > Ken,
> > >
> > > It's toast. Slippin' & slidin' is the end, and usually it's reverse
> that
> > > goes first since it is the lowest gear and demands the most from the
> > > clutches and the highest pressure from the pump. You can either take it
> to
> > > a
> > > transmission shop (www.german-transaxle.com is a good one), or have
> the
> > > kids
> > > rebuild it, if the instructor is willing to tackle that. You will need
> to
> > > buy them the parts and a Bentley manual. They will have two junk boxes
> to
> > > work with and could maybe get one working unit out of them for you!
> > >
> > > Stuart
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of
> > > Ken Taylor
> > > Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2008 8:14 PM
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > Subject: Replaced auto tranny doesn't work. Advice needed!
> > >
> > > After my 1990 Vanagon Multivan sat unused for about a year because of
> an
> > > automatic transmission failure, I finally found someone in my area with
> a
> > > used auto tranny from an '86 Westy for sale. The auto shop at the high
> > > school where I teach installed it for me under the guidance of the auto
> > > shop
> > > instructor, who is a former VW mechanic.
> > >
> > > Sadly, it's still not usable. Now, when I put it in reverse, it feels
> as
> > > if
> > > I'm trying to back over an enormous speed bump. It backs up very
> > > slightly,
> > > but stops, seemingly as if it's trying to back over something far too
> > > steep.
> > > Yet, if I put it in reverse and don't apply pressure on the gas pedal,
> it
> > > will roll backward slowly but freely.
> > >
> > > The former owner of the transmission, who has since moved out of the
> area
> > > (meaning that I'm on my own with this problem), seemed like an honest
> > > young
> > > man who claimed that it came from a Vanagon that he owned and that it
> had
> > > worked fine when he removed it.
> > >
> > >
> > > Could there be another explanation other than the transmission not
> working
> > > correctly when I purchased it? What would be a next step in diagnosing
> > > the
> > > problem?
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions.
> > >
> > > Ken
> > > Western Washington
>