TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1983 Air Cooled A/T Vanagon... Need a new transmission!

Tue Jun 26, 2012 5:31 pm

Just bought my first car ever... 1983 Vanagon... The automatic aircooled transmission would not go into 3rd gear for some reason... I took it in to a local transmission shop... After "driving it in reverse for an extended period of time to check the transmission" the guy tells me it will no longer go forward, only reverse :-). So I need a new transmission... From what I can tell the engine is still good, but then again, I know absolutely nothing about cars, let alone a VW Vanagon...Its got about 140,000 miles on it. I have every intention of learning as much as I can on my own. Figured I'd start here! I'm currently having an awful time trying to find a rebuilt or used transmission to replace it... Any suggestions?

Tue Jun 26, 2012 5:56 pm

Sorry to hear about your trans. I would check out AA Transaxle. They seem to have a very good reputation here.

http://www.aatransaxle.com/price_list.htm

But others will chime in a give lots of other options soon enough. Get a "Bentley", which is the slang name for the Service Manual for the vanagons. It has all the deep details on all of the cars major systems.

http://www.amazon.com/Volkswagen-Vanagon-Official-...ice+manual

I would also get a Haynes manual for the car, its a little more basic than the Bentley, but i actually like it more for simple stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/Vanagon-Cooled-8083-Haynes-M...gon+haynes

Get ready to spend some nights and weekends, and this whole Vanagon journey gets fun. I find it hard to find a solid mechanic who knows these cars in our area (midwest), so your best best is to learn it as much as you can yourself.

Oh, and replace your fuel lines. They split open when old, leaking gas all over your hot engine, and then your van burns to the ground. :(

Tue Jun 26, 2012 6:10 pm

Thank you so much! I'll order those manuals ASAP. Yeah from what I can tell so far, VW mechanics around the midwest are few and far between... And the ones that do work on them are generally not very good... In fact the mechanic that lives closest to me is well known to be a con-artist among VW owners...

The day I purchased the Van I checked the fuel lines and one of them was just starting to leak, I cut off the end where it was leaking and then sealed it back on, but I will be replacing all of them immediately.

Tue Jun 26, 2012 6:56 pm

Get 30r9 from your local flaps so you do not have to keep redoing the fuel lines. Also male sure the engine compartment is sealed before you start driving it.

Tue Jun 26, 2012 6:59 pm

AA transaxle doesn't do automatics. Someone with auto expertise will probably post a suggestion.
Thankfully the auto transmissions used in our vans are relatively simple and similar to older domestic models. A competent local shop should not have much trouble rebuilding your transmission. Be warned, it probably isn't going to be cheap.

Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:01 pm

Have a look for a mid 80's Audi 5000 in a junk yard. I have been told they used the same Auto tranny.

Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:05 pm

BC Westie wrote: Have a look for a mid 80's Audi 5000 in a junk yard. I have been told they used the same Auto tranny.

Good call. The automatic section (not the final drive) is mostly the same across several models. There may be differences in the transmission cooler plumbing. Might get you down the road though. :D

Tue Jun 26, 2012 7:09 pm

Found it. Audi 5000 it is. Great thread for Auto freaks like me :

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=253381&highlight=campground+rebuild

Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:24 pm

What do you think? Can I rebuild it myself? I have absolutely no auto mechanic experience whatsoever... But I have the dedication and plenty of time... I've been researching master rebuild kits and I'm not 100% sure what I am looking for... Any suggestions or links would be much appreciated...

Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:54 am

Someone with more experience than myself can better answer this question. But here goes...
I don't want to discourage you. These transmissions seem to be relatively simple and require few special tools.

However if you don't understand how an automatic functions, and how to use basic tools. You are probably going to struggle even when following a manual.

That all said, its your time and money. If this was me I would have procured a junkyard transmission to get by while I tinkered with my original. It may be possible for a novice to rebuild one of these. Do you have a mechanically inclined friend you could consult with questions?

As far as rebuild kit goes. You will want all the seals and wear parts, (brake bands some of the springs etc). If any of the hard parts are damaged/worn you will need to find those as well.

Here is a good thread with some info on what parts you may need.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=401180&highlight=auto+rebuild
Search around this forum some, there is plenty of information available.

On another note I have read a few good things about this shop.

http://www.germantransaxle.com/catalog/volkswagen/vanagon/automatic-converter-final-drive-complete-/

Good Luck.

Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:04 am

Um,
I'd say NO.. you answered your own question
Can I rebuild it myself?
I have absolutely no auto mechanic experience whatsoever...

you're going to have to fork over some $$ that's part of the learning curve.
you may be able to join your 2 halves the Transmission portion to the Differential portion, but that can have issues you don't want to revisist.. and while it's cheaper to just have the AT portion rebuilt, it's likely a god time to have the bearings in the R&P rebuilt.
German Transaxle
Complete Vanagon AT rebuild:
http://www.germantransaxle.com/catalog/volkswagen/vanagon/automatic-converter-final-drive-complete-/
German Transaxle also does just the AT portion of the transaxle if you are on a budget call them.
here's the listing for the Audi5000 AT only portion
http://www.germantransaxle.com/catalog/audi/5000/automatic-non-turbo-transmission-only/

whoismrbrown wrote: What do you think? Can I rebuild it myself? I have absolutely no auto mechanic experience whatsoever... But I have the dedication and plenty of time... I've been researching master rebuild kits and I'm not 100% sure what I am looking for... Any suggestions or links would be much appreciated...

Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:10 am

I would suggest swapping your trans out for a complete used vanagon auto trans before attempting to either rebuild yours, or split your diff/trans to swap an an audi one.

If you can get a hold of a used vanagon transmission do that. You'll need an 80-83 unit as a direct swap. You can upgrade to a later model one as well, but they utilize an ATF cooler which you'll have to get an aftermarket air cooler kit for since you don't have water (the air coolers are superior to the water ATF coolers).

Once your comfortable with the swap and have a little transmission exposure under your belt, then go ahead and tackle the broken one. you'll have a rebuilt one for later.

You don't really want a tranny rebuild to be your first mechanical project. It's not overly complicated to rebuild or swap the tranny section but I wouldn't recommend it as a first project.

There are other makes and models that use that tranny section too and will mate right up to the vanagon automatic differential. The audi 1K, 5K and porsche 944 come to mind.

Mon Jul 02, 2012 8:17 am

Thank you all for your help and suggestions!

I was able to find a used 1983 Vanagon A/T that is still in good working condition... Should be ready to roll next week! I'll be keeping the old one and will tackle the rebuild later on once I've had more mechanical experience...

I had looked at that German transaxle site several times in the past few weeks... Its the only site that I could find that sells rebuilt Vanagon automatic trannys... But I can't afford the $1,600 - $1,800 they're asking right now... Although that 2 year warranty is badass!

Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:52 am

whoismrbrown wrote: Thank you all for your help and suggestions!

I was able to find a used 1983 Vanagon A/T that is still in good working condition... Should be ready to roll next week! I'll be keeping the old one and will tackle the rebuild later on once I've had more mechanical experience...

I had looked at that German transaxle site several times in the past few weeks... Its the only site that I could find that sells rebuilt Vanagon automatic trannys... But I can't afford the $1,600 - $1,800 they're asking right now... Although that 2 year warranty is badass!

cool cool. shout back if you need any help swapping the used one in.

Fri Aug 31, 2012 3:35 pm

So, I ordered a used tranny.... And they sent me one for a transporter... Big mess, shitty carparts.com car parts hub company. Never again...

I ended up getting the transmission rebuilt and it runs wonderfully now! I ordered the Bentley and another manual so I can go through and start fixing the rest of the vehicle up.. Can I get a few suggestions on how to go through and check that the engine's in good shape? 120,000 miles and it sounds good and runs good.. Is my best bet to take it to a VW mechanic and get it looked at / tuned up or can I do the necessary checks and balances my self?

- T

Fri Aug 31, 2012 3:56 pm

Have you been here yet... www.roadhaus.com. Find yourself a Vanagon savy mechanic and treat them kindly, a dozen donuts,a six pack of beer, etc... :D goes a long way. Good to see another air-cooled Westy on the road, and yeah ....change out all the fuel lines.