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servingtwentytolife
Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2013
Posts: 14
Location: oreganistan
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 Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 3:26 pm Post subject: Trans --no 3-4 |
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| So had a great cruise in the Van. no issues. No unsettling noises. Got back in van going through gears. Reverse, 1st and 2nd no problem. can't engage 3/4. no grinding or growling. Have van on brother-in law's rack. Checked linkage--not bad. disconnected linkage to transmission. It will operate reverse, one and two no problem. I can engage 3/4 it appears however isn't all the way to the one side. Question is: is 3/4 all the way outside or is it an alignment/gate issue. Can I align this myself--externally? not really sure about opening up a transmission. Vanagon is an 84, 200k on body/trans about 70 on engine. |
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bluebus86
Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 11075
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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Could be broken 3/4 slider, this failure is common on high mileage tranny's, do NOT drive it anymore, as bits of slider can totally break free and damage further parts costing you a whole lot more money for repair.
that is worst case, you need a rebuild.
Of course the linkage could be haywire, so check that first, if all is good there, then suspect 3/4 slipper has started to come apart.
again do not drive it like this.
look up on Samba 3/4 slider issues with search function, has been discussed a lot.
Link to posting with photos
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=173239&highlight=slider |
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tschroeder0
Samba Member
Joined: April 14, 2008
Posts: 2096
Location: Boulder CO
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Yeah, sounds like the typical catastrophic failure, be very happy you are not in the middle of nowhere, sorry. |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9797
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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The good news if you do need a rebuild is that you are (sorta) near a very good source for same: AA Transaxle
Mine went at 180K and Daryl set me up with a great rebuild. |
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hans j
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2006
Posts: 2714
Location: Salt Lake City UT
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome to the club! Mine broke a couple weeks ago and now on the list at AA transaxle to get a trans! 
_________________
1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181 |
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servingtwentytolife
Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2013
Posts: 14
Location: oreganistan
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 5:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks. Is this something to repair or buy a rebuilt? What I am getting to is There is no "additional noise" from the gearbox so could a competent transmission house repair the situation or should I just go to aa or german? |
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bluebus86
Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 11075
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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| servingtwentytolife wrote: |
| Thanks. Is this something to repair or buy a rebuilt? What I am getting to is There is no "additional noise" from the gearbox so could a competent transmission house repair the situation or should I just go to aa or german? |
I'd select a well known Vanagon experienced shop for the build I'd trust them a lot more than Aamco or such. the vanagon tranny is a bit different than most trannies. Expertise in the vanagon tranny is a important. likely you will need other parts replaced from normal wear. certain things on these trannies require specialized tools and parts, that standard transmission shop may lack. the modified slider is one of them things, the modified ones don't fail like yours may have.
again don't driver her , if she must be moved before pulling tranny, get her flat bedded, or with rear wheels off ground. a lot more damage can happen if the pieces finally break loose, and that will cost you a lot more in busted parts.
To save money you can remove and install the tranny yourself. sounds like you have access to a lift so that is one option to save. |
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10248
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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When it happened to me, I experienced the same. No noise, just suddenly from one minute to the next I could not get 3/4. I tried once, then immediately remembered this issue I'd read about on Samba and pulled over. When I later opened the tranny the 3/4 slider was cracked into several pieces but none had fallen out of position yet. So it was a matter of a new 3/4 slider and I could have driven off. I took the chance to upgrade some bits while I was in there. Also, I would not have anyone do that besides AATransaxle. Experience with this trans is key, though every local shop you ask will tell you they can handle it. With AA doing it, you'll never open the trans again. With a local shop, you may get it back and it has a new noise, or it doesn't shift smoothly when cold, or they will just stuff a new main bearing in it without caring that the old one was shifting around and hogging out the bearing retainer, etc, etc ad nauseum.
DougM
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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servingtwentytolife
Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2013
Posts: 14
Location: oreganistan
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| Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 8:29 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks again guys. On the phone this morning. I've had this vanagon for 24 years, thought I was the only one that had a soft spot for her. Find out my 24 year old son thinks of her as his baby! |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9797
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 9:12 am Post subject: |
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| bluebus86 wrote: |
| ...I'd select a well known Vanagon experienced shop for the build I'd trust them a lot more than Aamco or such... |
Just to be clear -- AA Transaxle is not the same thing as Aamco.
Daryl has vast experience with a great many Vanagon rebuilds -- I would expect many more than any other shop.
I did check with local VW shops of course, but all they would say is that they would open it up and 'it will cost whatever it costs'.
With Daryl you not only get a rebuild backed by a great reputation and guarantee but you also know the price right up front. |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17109
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 9:40 am Post subject: |
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In answer to your question, with the shift linkage disconnected at the transmission, it should require no side movement to select 3rd and 4th. It should only require back and forth movement. The sidemovement is for 1st/2nd and reverse.
When driving, you have the sense when you shift to 3rd that you are moving the shift rod over, but that is really not the case. If you were in neutral, moving the shift lever towards the dash, would select 3rd. The cross movement comes from being in 1st/2nd. Sounds internal to me. Daryl at AA Transaxel did mine and I have the experience and some of the tools. Other option is a used transmission.
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syncromike
Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2011
Posts: 660
Location: Boise, ID
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| Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 9:54 am Post subject: |
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+1 for AA. He rebuilt my tranny, gave me details on what he found inside and what he did. Then, after local shop installed the tranny w/ new engine, Daryl was very helpful with me over email working through some linkage and shift boot issues.
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'91 Syncro w/ Country Homes PopTop |
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