Dennis - Apology accepted. ;-)

You know, I totally understand what you mean, though. Right now, it is my
only transportation because the Safari is getting some much needed brake and
electrical work done. Well, I do have the S15 pickup but it only seats 3 of
us at best and there's 5 of us, plus grandma. LOL

Anyway, the Vanagon has had a lot of work done but it does need more, of
course. And I just need it to not leave me stranded until the Safari is back
home.

 *Thanks, ~Annie Anderson* Blogger, Designer, Thinker & Mom
web: annieandersonblog.com email: lsandrsn@gmail.com
twitter: silverlunace <http://twitter.com/silverlunace> facebook:
anniesanderson <http://facebook.com/anniesanderson>
*Blazin' a trail where there is no path.*

On Sun, Sep 12, 2010 at 7:39 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:

> Please accept my apologies. My response was a bit hard but it was not in
> response to your gender.
> I regularly see folks get these vehicles based on a perception of that
> "great VW' tradition. While these vehicles are great for many reasons,
> getting a 20 year old high mileage vehicle of any nature should not be
> considered for long term, reliable, it has to run every day, easy to keep
> transportation.  If you really "Can't have any getting stranded" then you
> may have to re-evaluate having a vehicle like this as your only vehicle.
> The
> reality is that any vehicle even new ones can and do have failures.  I can
> tell you some stories about my 2004 Diesel Pusher motor home.
>
> Engines and transmissions rarely fail without warning or cause. You are
> getting the warnings. Fluid changes, magic treatments,  adjustments etc.,
> is
> just denial of the inevitable. Unless you tell a shop differently, most
> will
> only point out things that need to be done immediately and if you are not
> using someone that knows these things intimately you will also get some
> poor
> advice.  At some point you may find that the purchase price was just the
> down payment. This will happen quickly if you live in an area with
> $100/hour
> labor rates  and retail parts pricing. If something has not been replaced
> in
> the last 5 to 10 years you will at some point have to deal with it. This
> includes heater cores, radiator, brakes including calipers and
> drums/rotors,
> wiring parts, and the suspension. Some of these repairs will require down
> time.
>
> If you have not already done so, one of the best investments you can make
> is
> a towing plan. If you notice most participants on this list do much of
> their
> own work. Get some books, including the Bentley service manual and consider
> some other education. Auto mechanics and basic electricity will get you
> through most any situation and some of the night courses can be a lot of
> fun.
>
> And since you are a girl, welcome aboard and let us know when we can help.
>
> Dennis!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Annie
> Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2010 12:05 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Transmission slippage - help!
>
> Dennis -
>
> I may be just a girl, but I'm not that dumb. ;-)
>
> Of course I didn't think "all I had to do was just drive it." As I
> mentioned
> in the original post, I bought it in January and had the transmission
> serviced. I actually had more than that done - tuneup, oil change, new
> exhaust, flushed the cooling system, new brakes, new CV joints, new wheel
> bearings all around, new axles in the rear and much, much, much more.
>
> No, I'm not stupid.
>
>  *Annie Anderson* Blogger, Designer, Thinker & Mom
> web: annieandersonblog.com email: lsandrsn@gmail.com
> twitter: silverlunace <http://twitter.com/silverlunace> facebook:
> anniesanderson <http://facebook.com/anniesanderson>
> *Blazin' a trail where there is no path.*
>
> On Sun, Sep 12, 2010 at 6:55 AM, Dennis Haynes
> <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:
>
> > 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
> > >>>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> >
> >
>
>