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tuekwik4u Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2018 Posts: 13 Location: Brawley CA
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2018 9:05 am Post subject: 4th gear kicks out on my Thing!! |
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Kinda new to VW so bear with me, when I'm driving the Thing on highway speeds, I shift into 4th but if I don't put pressure on the shifter it will kick it out 4th gear. I have done some reading and it points to an adjustment on the shifter rod. Tried adjusting it and threw off the shifting. Good thing I marked the rod where it was before making my adjustments. Would be appreciate any help.... thanks. |
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landkholdings Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2008 Posts: 250 Location: N. GA
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Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2018 4:51 am Post subject: Re: 4th gear kicks out on my Thing!! |
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A bungee cord will work for a little while, but the transaxle likely needs work.
All I know about transaxles is where to take them, but I’m sure someone who knows them will chime in. My bus started this behavior shortly after I aquired it, and it was the 4th gear slider or synchro or something. _________________ Kevin |
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mondshine Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2006 Posts: 2765 Location: The World's Motor Capital
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Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2018 9:57 am Post subject: Re: 4th gear kicks out on my Thing!! |
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This is a very common problem; rarely solved by a shifter adjustment.
Start saving your money for a rebuilt/exchange transaxle.
The bungee cord trick will work for a while, and won't add much damage to what has already been done, but the problem will only get worse.
When you have decided on a vendor for a replacement, agree to keep your Thing drive flanges so you can install them on the replacement transaxle.
Not all transaxles found in Things are original to the car, so make a note of the clutch release type as will as the nosecone/front mount type to avoid a mismatch when you receive the replacement.
Good luck, Mondshine |
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tuekwik4u Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2018 Posts: 13 Location: Brawley CA
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Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2018 3:33 pm Post subject: Re: 4th gear kicks out on my Thing!! |
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My luck of course. What's the bungee cord trick??? |
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mondshine Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2006 Posts: 2765 Location: The World's Motor Capital
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Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2018 4:05 pm Post subject: Re: 4th gear kicks out on my Thing!! |
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Not really a trick, just using a bungee cord to hold the gearshift lever in 4th gear.
I did this a few years ago to drive a couple hundred miles from northern Michigan to my garage. I ordered a transaxle the next day. |
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tuekwik4u Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2018 Posts: 13 Location: Brawley CA
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Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2018 5:17 pm Post subject: Re: 4th gear kicks out on my Thing!! |
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Gotcha, thanks for your help. |
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mondshine Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2006 Posts: 2765 Location: The World's Motor Capital
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Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2018 5:37 pm Post subject: Re: 4th gear kicks out on my Thing!! |
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Tuek...
Don't get mad!
Removing your engine and transaxle is sort of a rite of passage into the air cooled VW universe.
Besides, working on these cars is fun. Not as much fun as driving them; but fun, none the less.
So take your time, read the manuals and enjoy the experience |
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tuekwik4u Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2018 Posts: 13 Location: Brawley CA
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2018 9:48 am Post subject: Re: 4th gear kicks out on my Thing!! |
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Not mad at all!!
Just hadn't anticipated in dropping $$$ for a new transaxle.... |
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mondshine Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2006 Posts: 2765 Location: The World's Motor Capital
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2018 10:20 am Post subject: Re: 4th gear kicks out on my Thing!! |
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One feature of living in Michigan is that Things are driven from roughly May through October.
The rest of the time is for fixing 'em.
To misquote Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, "For every Thing, there is a season". |
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