Hissing from Automatic Shifter Base

[TommyBoyGomes]

Hey all,

I had an odd experience yesterday that I can't figure out.

I was driving in my automatic '90 Multivan (stock WBX) and I suddenly heard a loud hissing sound from the base of the automatic shifter. It sounded as if some hose had popped and was gradually losing pressure. My wife was in the car and put her ear to the base of the shifter console and heard the same thing. It hissed for about 15 seconds, then gradually became quieter and stopped.

Here's the weird part... I didn't lose any coolant, breaks continued to work fine, my A/C still worked and blew cold (I turned it on after the hissing sound to check it), no fluids under the van, etc. In other words, everything in the van continued to run fine for another 30 minutes of driving!

Any idea what it could have been?
_________________
1969 Squareback, 1776cc
1990 Vanagon Multivan

[brickster]

Check that your spare tire still has air.
_________________
1984 Campmobile Automatic

[16CVs]

Did your cruise control stop working?

Stacy
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread.

[TommyBoyGomes]

Interesting about the spare - I'll check that.

Yes, the van originally had cruise control, but I removed the assembly on top of the engine since it was falling apart. Does the cruise system have pressurized vacuum hoses under the shifter location?
_________________
1969 Squareback, 1776cc
1990 Vanagon Multivan

[16CVs]

Just a long shot, cruise hoses pass by there if cruise was working at the time.
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread.

[TommyBoyGomes]

I wasn't using cruise at the time - nor have I used it in 10 years or so. Could those lines still have been under pressure?

If not, maybe a rock took out our spare tire or something.
_________________
1969 Squareback, 1776cc
1990 Vanagon Multivan

[jlrftype7]

[XXX/Rx/RnR]

After the ecotec installation my first long trip I heard hissing. It was steam coming out the vent on top of the trans after boiling out the fluid. Out with the stock 010 and got a 090 with a large atf cooler. Hope that's not the noise you hear.
_________________
78' westy, 2.4 195hp ecotec, audi turbo a/t, a\c, 2 1/2" lift spindles, index rear, 930 cv's & axles, 225x65x17 BFGs ## 77' hardtop 2.0 T-4 duel 44 weber's, 225x50x17s ## 74' baha bug