Tabe - very fixable, very survivable. I'm living proof. to wit - had the same leak because the silicone fix from before I owned it gave out. IDK how long it held up but, I will not endorse the [lack of] procedure. after adjusting the cylinder via the bolt/nut opposite I found out the existing seals were okay for a few more miles; no more leak. then I found out that the 92mm x 3mm VW `seals' are $20 each. then I found out that 89mm x 3mm `O rings' will fit at about 1/10th the price for the pair. now, if the neighbors enjoyed watching me rolling under my van in the wet cold - a good day was had by all ...

--- On Mon, 12/5/11, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:

> From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: Automatic transmission leak - fixable?
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Monday, December 5, 2011, 6:03 AM
> That cover is for the 2nd gear brake
> band piston. The leak can be due to the
> cover O-ring or the one of the seals on the piston.
> Corrosion of the housing
> or the cover can also cause the leak. If you remove the pan
> and the valve
> body a "C" clamp can be carefully used the push the cover
> back on the get
> the snap ring back in. You have to be careful that the band
> is properly
> seated on the piston pin and the adjustment screw. 
> 
> Seals are 003323525A, 010323487C, and 010323533. Snap ring
> is 010323537A.
> 
> Dennis
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]
> On Behalf Of
> greentabe-vanagon@yahoo.com
> Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 2:09 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Automatic transmission leak - fixable?
> 
> 
> 
> Let me say that this is the first vehicle with an automatic
> transmission I
> have owned.� Previous vanagons and all other vehicles were
> all standards.�
> I'm picky.
> 
> There's a round cover on the left (driver's side) of the
> automatic
> transmission.� It is held on with the World's Biggest
> Internal Snap Ring
> (WBISR for short).� Is there an o-ring or other gasket
> under the round cover
> I can replace?� What's the best way to get the WBISR off
> and on again with
> transmission in van?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> tabe johnson/90MV
>