Thanks for all the advice, Dennis.  I have been lurking and questioning
every so often on this list since 1999 when I got my ''82.  I had a 12 year
love affair with my air cooled Vanagon as I raised my three boys.  The
automatic transmission finally died within 10 miles of home last fall.  I
had not been keeping it up as I should have for the past 6 years since I
kept thinking it couldn't last much longer-and I was broke with those boys
now in college.  It had maybe 200,000 miles (odometer hasn't worked since
139,000), of which I drove about 80,000 only on camping trips.

I know the seller well, he works at the same service station as my mechanic
and is a great guy.  It was his parents' camper, but they only had it two
seasons when his dad died suddenly.  Mom hung on to it for a year, but is
willing to sell it to someone who will love it and Dan knew that I was in
the market, since my '82 sat all winter at the station where he works. (I
live in a small town in Northeast Iowa-if anyone needs parts). I trust Dan
100% and he is trying to remedy this problem before we purchase it, short
of the transmission rebuild.  Dan's dad was a bit of a VW geek; he did lots
of research on tires and headlights and replaced all kinds of hoses and the
propane tank and the windshield and the canvas.  He has a detailed notebook
of everything he did to it, but we don't know much about the previous
owner.  I now have a partner who has the resources and desire to keep it in
good shape and is well aware of the money-pit aspect of the aged beast. He
is just worried about this slippage right now.

Thanks so much!     Laura from Decorah

On Thu, Apr 19, 2012 at 11:43 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:

> Older vehicles with low miles often turn out not to be the bargain
> envisioned. Are you buying this from an individual or a dealer? Or a
> curbstoner, (someone who buys and resells vehicles but is not a dealer)? If
> not a dealer be sure the person you are buying it from has his/her name on
> the title.
>
> Get a full history report of this vehicle. All vehicles for sale have one
> thing in common, they are no longer wanted buy their current and past
> owners. Maybe this is for profit, changes in lifestyle or the vehicle has
> issues. Vanagons especially Westy's were relatively expensive during that
> time. 91s had lower prices than 87s. Most folks that bought a Vanagon
> justified the cost to themselves expecting some level of economy  and most
> new Westy owners (including myself) justified the price as a single vehicle
> for both the daily commute and traveling. I took delivery of my 87 Syncro
> Westy February 1988 and reached 100,000 miles July 1993. In later years the
> usage dropped as I acquired other cars, a second Vanagon, and then the
> motor
> home thing.  Most saw that type of usage. So either the mileage is not
> correct, it only went to church on Sundays, or it spent a great deal of
> time
> not running.
>
> These automatic transmissions with proper care often go 150-200k miles.
> However there are some parts that age regardless of miles. Slipping is
> often
> the result of a blocked inlet screen or internal pressure leaks from
> failing
> pistons or seal rings. Depending on your location and who you can get to
> help figure $1,300 and up for tranny day.
>
> Really have the engine checked out. Then the suspension and brakes. Keep in
> mind that many things that look and work good now are going to change as
> you
> put this vehicle to work. Many old hoses and bushings, mounts, etc are
> going
> to crack as they get flexed. When was the heater cores and radiator
> changed?
>
>
> What about the tires? Check for proper size and load rating, and then the
> date. Recently worked with some bought a Westy from California and had it
> shipped here (NY). Third day had a tire blow out. Spare was no good. A tow
> and 5 tires later!
>
> Welcome to the list and best of luck if you get this van.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Laura Olson
> Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 12:29 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: auto transmission slippage
>
> We are looking at an '86 Westy (with only 62,000 miles!) and almost
> everything checks out.  It is in great shape.  Very excited to replace my
> dead '82.  The one thing we noticed was a blip of slippage on a steep
> uphill
> at precisely 16 mph while it is in 2nd gear and you are not really
> accelerating. Very specific.  Also noticed it on one flat turn of a corner.
> I searched the archives and found a couple of things to do-yes we checked
> the ATF and it was perfect.  But the owner is changing it today and
> dropping
> the transmission and checking everything I printed out from this list and
> one post from the Samba. Do you think this automatic transmission is on its
> way out?  And if so, how much should I expect to pay for a rebuilt
> transmission?  No, I can't do it myself.
>
> Laura
>
>