At 25 years and 175,000 miles that tranny owes nobody anything. The symptoms
can be a hydraulic problem or the clutches are just plain worn out. You need
to get it properly repaired before you burn it up an make it
non-rebuildable. Hopefully you didn't buy that vehicle thinking all you had
to do was drive it.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Annie
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 2:23 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Transmission slippage - help!

Ok . . . this morning after I took my kids to school, making sure it was
good and warm by time I got home, I checked the fluid level again. It was a
little below the lower dot so I added some fluid and brought it up to about
midway between the dots.

I haven't driven yet since I added more fluid but I will check it again
after I get home this afternoon from picking up the kids and let you know
what happens.

Thanks,
~Annie

On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 9:40 PM, Annie <lsandrsn@gmail.com> wrote:

> No, I'm sure it isn't overfull. It's a little below the top mark. I am
> always super careful when I put fluids in anywhere to ensure I don't
> get too much.
>
> It's got 174,000 miles on it. But I've only owned it since January.
> Had a bunch of work done to it including a complete trans service back
> in February/March. From what I can tell, it was very well cared for in
> its early life. The guy I bought it from, however, had driven it pretty
hard.
>
> I will double check it tomorrow and make sure again that it's not too
> full just to be even more absolutely sure. I'll let you know what I
> find out. If anyone else has any other thoughts in the meantime, please do
share!
>
> Thanks!
> ~Annie
>
> On Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 9:18 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
> scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>
>> maybe Daryl will comment.
>>
>> one things ...make super sure it is not overfull.
>> that's like fully warmed up and parked on the level, the AF level
>> must not be above the top mark on the dipstick. Hyper important.
>>
>> re the comment " I just thought
>>
>>  perhaps it was because I'd driven quite a few miles traveling back
>> and
>>> forth
>>> to Seattle and Bellevue "
>>>
>>
>> that by itself will not cause a problem ..
>> it should be able to drive tank after thankful after thankful, back
>> and forth across the US several times if you ask it to.
>>  Just 'driving it normally' doesn't make it act up unless something
>> is worn or tired.
>>
>> how many miles on it ?
>> be super sure it's not overfull.
>>
>> Scott
>> www.turbovans.com
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Annie" <lsandrsn@GMAIL.COM>
>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2010 8:47 PM
>> Subject: Transmission slippage - help!
>>
>>
>>
>>  Hi, all
>>>
>>> Seems I'm having some transmission slippage. I've got an '85 GL with
>>> an auto trans. I've checked the fluid levels numerous times and it's
>>> right where it should be. I did add a little a few weeks ago but it
>>> wasn't too low. I haven't noticed any fluid leaking from anywhere.
>>>
>>> The slipping seems to happen shifting from 2nd into drive and then
>>> once you come to a stop and the transmission downshifts. Sometimes
>>> it's like it doesn't fully disengage or something as it kinda
>>> "clunks" once you've stopped and makes the van lurch slightly. I
>>> hope what I'm saying makes sense. ;-)
>>>
>>> It also seems to slip once you've slowed down a little and then go
>>> to speed back up again - it's like it doesn't engage again. It
>>> started this a few weeks ago but it was very intermittent at the
>>> time and I just thought perhaps it was because I'd driven quite a
>>> few miles traveling back and forth to Seattle and Bellevue for two
>>> weeks every day. (About 130 miles or so per
>>> day.)
>>>
>>> Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions etc would be greatly appreciated.
>>> This is my only vehicle right now and the kids just went back to
>>> school today.
>>> Can't
>>> have any getting stranded!
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>> ~Annie
>>>
>>
>>
>