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driverdave
Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2014
Posts: 66
Location: Denver, CO
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 Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 6:13 am Post subject: Broke Down in Syracuse New York, Need Shop Advice |
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in need of a shop to tow my manual 1984 vanagon to in syracuse new york. i think i need them to pull my manual transmission and possibly replace a KEP adapter plate.
long story short, final leg of a CO to NY trip, on i90 going up a hill and hit a rough patch of road while going semi hard on the gas in 4th at 65. suddenly, it felt like it got kicked into neutral.
1984 vanagon westy, 91 subaru EJ22 with a KEP conversion that i did not do.
recent transmission rebuild less than 2,000 mile ago. ran flawless from CO to NY, had to get towed the last 70 miles.
the KEP adapter plate is only a quick guess. i checked the outside tranny linkage and it appeared to be good, no crazy noises from anything, shifts into all gears but no power goes to the transmission. shifting feels normal, clutch feels normal.
my guess is being on the gas under the stress of going up the hill, combined with the rough patch was too much for the adapter plate?
thanks for any advice!
Last edited by driverdave on Thu Jun 11, 2015 7:06 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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danfromsyr
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Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 6:20 am Post subject: |
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I'm in Syracuse send me your contact info. [email protected]
I'm stuck at work at the moment
I'm not sure what service garage would be able to help
but Manlius Motorworks has a few techs that work on custom stuff and vanagons.
103 Fairgrounds Dr, Manlius, NY 13104 (315) 682-9126
we'll see what we can do.
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 6:24 am Post subject: |
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this is your best bet for a quick answer.
there's a VW vanagon tech at the Pep Boys on Erie Blvd in Syracuse. (ask for Vinny if he's working today)
3033 Erie Blvd E, Syracuse, NY 13224 (315) 449-3445
but he's not familiar with Subaru but is very familiar with dropping vanagon transmissions. if you need transparts he'll be able to contact me (Dan)
you could have grenaded the clutch disc
could have blown a CV joint (My best guess) (Pull Ebrake start it up and put it into gear then go back and look for a spinning axle underneath)
you could have broken the input shaft where it joins inside the transmission.
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unplannedbbq
Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2012
Posts: 228
Location: NC
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 7:07 am Post subject: |
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On the bright side, you can grab lunch at dinosaur barbecue while waiting on the repair - SYR is a good food town.
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'86 x-1wd, now w/ 2wd! Wolfsburg Weekender
"However not an ideal swap unless it was all you had and you needed to escape some distopian 3rd world country." - Mongoswede |
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campism
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Joined: September 07, 2007
Posts: 4492
Location: Richmond VA
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 7:15 am Post subject: Re: Broke Down in Syracuse New York, Need Shop Advice |
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| driverdave wrote: |
...the KEP adapter plate is only a quick guess. i checked the outside tranny linkage and it appeared to be good, no crazy noises from anything, shifts into all gears but no power goes to the transmission. shifting feels normal, clutch feels normal.
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I would suspect a CV joint and check it visually. You may be able to see that by having someone apply power in any gear that the half-shaft just spins but does not turn a rear wheel. I saw this happen on a buddy's Bimmer. Would not go after filling up at a gas station and I could see the shaft turning. Check the CV joints at both ends of the shafts. If outers break it will do this, but if inners break the shaft will not turn and you might be misled.
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'87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic |
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driverdave
Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2014
Posts: 66
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 7:53 am Post subject: |
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thanks for the replies!
i started it up and put it in gear, and heard a weird little shudder, became more pronounced after pumping the clutch in and out.
letting out the clutch the shudder goes away and the van will be in gear with the engine on, and no power to the wheels. peeked at the CV joints where they meet the tranny, not seeing any movement while in gear and the engine is on.
probably not the adapter plate like i had thought. |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 7:57 am Post subject: |
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blown clutch disc
or worse input shaft if no power transferred to the drive axles.
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driverdave
Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2014
Posts: 66
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 10:56 am Post subject: |
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| unplannedbbq wrote: |
| On the bright side, you can grab lunch at dinosaur barbecue while waiting on the repair - SYR is a good food town. |
definitely a plus, we're here for a little bit anyways. that place is great!
another plus was not having to pay the NYS thruway toll after AAA towed me. gotta look on the bright side of things! |
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deutschewerks
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Joined: November 29, 2011
Posts: 68
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 11:13 am Post subject: |
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Hey this is Vinnie, who Dan spoke of above. Ironically something very similar happened to me on a NY to CO trip last year, I blew the 3/4 slider in Estes Park and had to be towed to Boulder where I bought a trans and swapped it out.
So best case, you have a smoked clutch/pressure plate or broken axle. Worst case, broken input shaft or other internal fun stuff. I had issues with my KEP plate, but it was because the input shaft was too long (or the plate too thin) and hitting the crank, locking the engine and trans together.
I was thinking possible oil slinger related issue too, but you didnt say anything about fluid leaking..
Give me a call here at the shop, 3154493445. Im here until 5 or so today and all day tomorrow. If you want to bring it in, the sooner the better so you know what you are looking at and can form a plan of attack. Manlius Motorworks is a great place to go to here in the Syracuse area as well, the owner Brian has owned a few Vanagons along the way.
As for food... Dino, Alto Cinco, Mothers Cupboard for breakfast, and Gannon's Isle Ice Cream are all great.
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1985 Vanagon Westfalia 1.8t "Buelah"
1994 Golf GL 1.8t 350+hp monster
1999 Golf GL TDI
2000 Golf GL Race car
1993 Eurovan GL |
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driverdave
Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2014
Posts: 66
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 11:34 am Post subject: |
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| deutschewerks wrote: |
Hey this is Vinnie, who Dan spoke of above. Ironically something very similar happened to me on a NY to CO trip last year, I blew the 3/4 slider in Estes Park and had to be towed to Boulder where I bought a trans and swapped it out.
So best case, you have a smoked clutch/pressure plate or broken axle. Worst case, broken input shaft or other internal fun stuff. I had issues with my KEP plate, but it was because the input shaft was too long (or the plate too thin) and hitting the crank, locking the engine and trans together.
I was thinking possible oil slinger related issue too, but you didnt say anything about fluid leaking..
Give me a call here at the shop, 3154493445. Im here until 5 or so today and all day tomorrow. If you want to bring it in, the sooner the better so you know what you are looking at and can form a plan of attack. Manlius Motorworks is a great place to go to here in the Syracuse area as well, the owner Brian has owned a few Vanagons along the way.
As for food... Dino, Alto Cinco, Mothers Cupboard for breakfast, and Gannon's Isle Ice Cream are all great. |
hey vinnie, glad dan linked me up with you!
van is on it's way to you now.
no fluid leaks or anything out of the ordinary until this incident. tranny is a rebuild with about 2,000 miles on it.
van ran great all the way from CO to NY, shifted fine, no weird noises, etc...
the shop has my number, give me a ring if you need any further info.
thanks! |
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dobryan
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Location: Brookeville, MD
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deutschewerks
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Joined: November 29, 2011
Posts: 68
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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Total clutch destruction. Friction material sheared away where it connects to the center section.
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1985 Vanagon Westfalia 1.8t "Buelah"
1994 Golf GL 1.8t 350+hp monster
1999 Golf GL TDI
2000 Golf GL Race car
1993 Eurovan GL |
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Mike Robinson
Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2010
Posts: 386
Location: Nanaimo BC Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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You have to love the samba
Great topic, I only hope I don't have a problem on the road, if I do I want a series of posts like this!
Mike
'82 Westy Diesel AAZ |
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driverdave
Samba Member
Joined: October 15, 2014
Posts: 66
Location: Denver, CO
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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| deutschewerks wrote: |
Total clutch destruction. Friction material sheared away where it connects to the center section. |
almost 30 years driving stick and i've never gone through a clutch until now. first time for everything.
thanks for the pic & the fast service vinnie |
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Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76940
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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| unplannedbbq wrote: |
| On the bright side, you can grab lunch at dinosaur barbecue while waiting on the repair - SYR is a good food town. |
Best of the bunch... much better than Rochester or NYC.
"Ribs for her"
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
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IdahoDoug
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Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10251
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 10:38 pm Post subject: |
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Nice, guys! Really great to see the system work like it's supposed to. Which is:
Drive a Vanagon anywhere you want.
Break the Vanagon.
Meet the nicest guys in town.
Continue on your way.
rgds,
Doug
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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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Wildthings
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Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50352
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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| driverdave wrote: |
| deutschewerks wrote: |
Total clutch destruction. Friction material sheared away where it connects to the center section. |
almost 30 years driving stick and i've never gone through a clutch until now. first time for everything.
thanks for the pic & the fast service vinnie |
What brand is the failed disc? Any reason to expect it was somehow loaded improperly due to the conversion or other causes? |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
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Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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deutschewerks
Samba Member
Joined: November 29, 2011
Posts: 68
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 5:23 am Post subject: |
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I'm just paying back the help I received on here last year when I broke down in Colorado. I would do more to help with price, but working in a chain shop there is only so much I can get away with! 
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1985 Vanagon Westfalia 1.8t "Buelah"
1994 Golf GL 1.8t 350+hp monster
1999 Golf GL TDI
2000 Golf GL Race car
1993 Eurovan GL |
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danfromsyr
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Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 6:05 am Post subject: |
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parts are dropped off and waiting your shift.
good thing I keep some stock of 228mm clutch discs in my shop for such emergencies.
amazed I could locate them within my shop that's another story.
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