Automatic Transmission Trouble?

[djacksonsf]

I was unlucky enough to have cross-contamination between the cooling system and the transmission. I believe it had been a problem for a while, because it was discovered when the fan failed to go on in stopped traffic. Apparently, the sensor in the cooling system had been degraded by transmission fluid.

A Gowesty kit and multiple flushings and fluid replacement resolved the issue. However, a few hundred miles later, it now feels as though the brakes are engaged when I am in gear - especially in reverse.

Instead of having to apply the brake to stop the momentum of the van before I shift from reverse to drive as I usually do, the van seems to struggle against resistance in reverse. It also stops abruptly as soon as I take my foot off the gas peddle. The resistance is a bit less noticeable in drive, but it still feels restricted - as if the parking brake is on. In neutral, the van moves without any resistance.

Does this sound like a failing transmission, especially given the cross contamination?
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'87 Westfalia
'88 BMW 535i
'83 BMW R100RS
'74 BMW 2002

[borninabus]

if you can rule out any kind of drag from the rest of the rolling components and/or brakes, then yes. you may have a transmission problem.
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88 Van WBX, A/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T - 2012 Touareg TDI Sport

[markswagen]

your transmission is now junk, time for a rebuild, it's only going to get worse.
l've been there and done that, the wife's vanagon, we bought cheap, because the cooler had split and mixed ATF and coolant, the seller suggested that it had ''only just happened'' BS, l knew going into it that l'd need to replace the transmission, and the ENTIRE cooling system, all the hoses, radiator, heater matrix and it's hoses, EVERYTHING, and they don't like ATF.
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markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.

619 201 0310

[djacksonsf]

What’s a reasonable price for rebuild or replacement?
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'87 Westfalia
'88 BMW 535i
'83 BMW R100RS
'74 BMW 2002

[markswagen]

that very much depends upon where you get them rebuilt, l have them done at a place in el cajon called transworks, eric the owner has done l think 18 for my customers so far, l'm not sure what his price is this year.

[Red Ryder]

Expect $1800-2200 for a rebuild on the AT. Use a quality shop.
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“Most everyone’s mad here. You may have noticed I am not quite all there myself.” — Cheshire Cat, Adventures of Alice in Wonderland

“Scarlett” — 1990 Vanagon Carat Wolfsburg Edition (Tornado Red)
“Nigel” — 1999 Jaguar XK8 convertible (Alpine Green Metallic)

[djacksonsf]

Thank you - I appreciate the information. I am hearing as high as $9,000, so I wanted to hear what others had paid. Believe the high number was for a complete replacement.
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'87 Westfalia
'88 BMW 535i
'83 BMW R100RS
'74 BMW 2002

[MarkWard]

How did you drain the automatic section? How did you fill it? I ask because it would not be the first time somone drained the differential thinking it was the automatic. Put ATF in the filler tube, but left the differential empty. The differential would begin to sieize without gear oil on it. Just something to mention.

[djacksonsf]

That's a good question. I did not drain and fill, but I can ask the local shop that did the work. They confirmed that they changed the filter when they serviced the transmission after the fluid comingling, so it doesn't appear a clogged filter is the culprit. Having it towed over today...
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+++++++++++++
'87 Westfalia
'88 BMW 535i
'83 BMW R100RS
'74 BMW 2002

[MarkWard]

[SCM]

[djacksonsf]

I confirmed the costs you quoted are current and the upgrades are still offered. Still figuring out next steps, but everyone is saying the transmission and cooling system must be replaced simultaneously - and that the cooling system should be upgraded as well.

The really unfortunate part about all this is that it happened right after I had the camper inspected from top to bottom to identify areas of preventative maintenance. I told the shop I went to in Santa Cruz to recommend whatever steps made sense, and in response they completed their multi-hour, 80-point inspection.

Although the resulting report seemed comprehensive and led to a lot of work, issues persisted. Replacing the transmission oil cooler was not mentioned at all. The shop has since said that there's no test to determine whether the oil cooler will fail.

After reaching out to other shops on the West Coast, the response varies from "we always recommend replacing it," to "replacement is required after every new build," to "we've never seen that type of failure."

So, I am sharing this information in the hope that others with automatic transmissions at risk of this kind of failure see the post.
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'87 Westfalia
'88 BMW 535i
'83 BMW R100RS
'74 BMW 2002

[Silverghost500]

Some people run the OEM transmission cooler without issues, others have unfortunate failure events like the one your system had. Some sing it's praises here, others curse it. Personally it was an OEM component on my van I was glad to get rid of.

They are correct about replacing your coolant system components along with work on rebuilding the transmission. If you show no receipts or evidence the OEM coolant hoses have been replaced, you'll be better off in the long run.

Sorry all of this has happened to you.
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1986 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia "Von Westy"
Honda K24A conversion
3-Speed Automatic

Von Westy YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbhyZYxJEQrUuLnMbLleeIA

[djacksonsf]

Thank you for the suggestion and empathy. All gas, coolant and power steering hoses were replaced as part of the preventative maintenance done last fall. So, the coolant hoses probably need to be replaced again.

I also upgraded some coolant hoses to stainless steel not long after I purchased the camper from my parents. Would they also need to be replaced or would additional flushing with some kind of detergent be sufficient to remove remaining ATF residue? And some have mentioned a larger capacity cooling system upgrade. Does anyone have information on that?

At this point, so much has been replaced or upgraded - fuel tank, sending unit & seals; exhaust system & catalytic converter (failed at 2 years despite engine running within gas tolerances); steering box; headlights; several wiring harnesses; idle air control valve; kitchen faucet, plastic tubing & water pump; window seals; windshield; rear-view mirrors, rims, various bushings, plastic parts in the engine that got hot during an overheat; fan & fan switch, etc. - plus a full repaint and window tinting.

All with the aim of enjoying the camper in the coming years without major breakdowns. Sigh.
_________________
+++++++++++++
'87 Westfalia
'88 BMW 535i
'83 BMW R100RS
'74 BMW 2002

[Silverghost500]

If your stainless components are stainless inside and out you can reuse them. Clean them and they'll be good to put back on.
_________________
1986 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia "Von Westy"
Honda K24A conversion
3-Speed Automatic

Von Westy YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbhyZYxJEQrUuLnMbLleeIA

[Wildthings]

Your transmission problems could be a loss of the preload on the pinion bearings, which will allow the pinion to be sucked into the ring gear in reverse binding things up and making it feel like the brakes are on. This was one of the failures for the original factory transmission in my 91 Multivan. Been through the same on a whole variety of rigs over the years, VW, Toyota, Chevys, and Dodges. On rigs with a stand alone rear end retightening the nut and reestablishing the preload is easy enough to do in situ, but on the VW the transaxle has to come out and the final drive torn into.

[djacksonsf]

At long last, my rebuilt transmission from German Transaxle of America has been installed. The camper is now shifting nicely. GTA didn't specify any break-in protocol except monitoring fluids. For those who have GTA rebuilds - and in my case, and automatic - are there any best practices I should follow?
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+++++++++++++
'87 Westfalia
'88 BMW 535i
'83 BMW R100RS
'74 BMW 2002

[dobryan]

Glad you are back on the road!

Contact GTA for any break in. Do not listen to us, we do not have the warranty.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2010 Subaru EJ25 (Vanaru) and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[Wildthings]

[clamay]

I have a 91 Carat with automatic transmission.
About 2 years ago I had my transmission rebuilt by GTA. Since then (20K miles) it has worked well, no issues. Yesterday I was involved as an assist vehicle driver for a 100 mile bicycle event. I drove around the back roads of beautiful Skagit Valley tending to the needs of the bike riders. I made many stops and the van ran great, shifted great, no issues. At the end of the day I was offloading stuff at a storage locker. When I started the van and put it in reverse it just creeped back. When I gave it more gas the engine would rev but the van would not move any faster. When I put it in forward, the same thing happened. It would move but only at a creep. I had 2 miles to go to my home so I limped along at 5mph with my flashers on. When I got home I checked under the van, no leaks. I checked the Trans fluid level in Park at idle and it was slightly above the full mark. It looked clean but it was not very warm, maybe 80 deg. F. Any ideas of what is going on?
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91 Carat, automatic, GW 2.2, GW EFI, Peloquin TBD

When you come to a fork in the road, take it. --Yogi Berra