Tranny Blues

["Al Powell" <APOWELL@agcom.tamu.edu>]

 Ron Angert <rangert@vt.edu> said:

> >I bought a '88 5K non Q non T sedan (95K miles) and I knew about the
> >autotrans problem.  In my next life i will find a 5 speed, I hope.
> >
> >Anyway, it does swap fluids to some extent.  Actually, it looks like diff to
> >ATF and not the other way around.  The hypoid looks fine. My mechanic
> >suggests just changing the ATF fequestly, it is very cheap to do, but he
> >called the dealer to see what they say, and to get some idea of the cost of
> >replacing the seal, and they had a different view on this.

You're emptying the sea with a bucket and setting yourself up for a 
more expensive repair.

> >They said that they were no longer "allowed" to replace the seal as dealer
> >installed seals rarely solved the problem, and that they would not do it.
> >Then he added that the failure rate and miles to failure was not
> >significantly longer for the clients who changed ATF every oil change and
> >those who did not change it.  Now, I think that it is to the dealer's
> >advantage to encourage tranny failure so they can sell you a new one, but it
> >seems to me that changing the ATF every 3K miles would buy one some miles.
> >Maybe once that synthetic hypoid oil gets on transmission surfaces it is all
> >over, and that would support the dealer's observations.

Act NOW before you end up replacing trany parts!!

> >Now I know that no-one on this list would own a car with an automatic, but
> >there is such a volume of technical and "I once heard" experience on this
> >list that I would value any opinions on what to do besides putting
> >$200/month in a savings account for the down payment on the new tranny (or
> >Audi).

Ron -  I also have an tuaomatic.  This is a STANDARD VW TRANNY and 
any competent shop can work on it.  The dealer's hands are tied on 
this, buyt any76 independent shop can do the seals and inspect to see 
that's wrong.  The tranny and torque converter in your car are on 
OPPOSITE sides of the transaxle, so working on both requires dropping 
transaxle.  The shaft which goes from tranny to converter is inside 
another, hollow shaft which also carries ATF from tranny to 
converter.  This shaft might be a source of leakage.

I recommend that you stay firmly AWAY from the dealer on this.  A 
good VW tranny shop can diagnose the problem, replace seals as 
needed, and do it BEFORE the transmission or transaxle fails!!   DO 
THIS NOW and you will save probably $1000 in rebuild bills.

I have had my tranny rebuilt because of a common reverse seal failure 
(was discussed a lot on this group last summer) and I know the drill. 
DO NOT wait until it breaks.  My rebuild cost $1500; Audi will NOT 
sell a new transmission, only a tranny and transaxle, and it's $3000 
without labor.  Rebuilds are cheaper....but don't wait if you can 
dodge this bullet by acting now!

If you find it difficult to find a shop - I asked my local tranny 
guru about why our list members have trouble finding shops - his 
response was that the only customers who were more anal about their 
repairs and more of a PITA than Audi drivers was Volvo drivers.  Let 
them know you will not fall into this category...



Dan Masi said: 

> Crutchfield is an *excellent* company.  Yes, their prices are
> higher than most (all?) mail order companies.  But their
> level of service is unparalled, period.  

Agreed.  They have spent up to 90 minutes at a time with me on their 
800-line bill when I was working on a problem.

> Buy a component
> speaker system, install it, and find you just don't like the
> sound?  Send it back.  They have a wealth of car-specific
> installation info.  Yes, I've used them for specs and then
> gone wandering into NYC to pick up some stuff on Canal Street.
> No, you WON'T save "40-50%" off of Crutchfield prices that
> way in general.  If Crutchfield was selling everything at twice
> what others were, they'd be out of business.  

Agreed.  You may save 10-25% more, but you have to look sharp and 
once you buy it, you're on your own except for whatever factory 
service centers exist.

> And all you need
> is one bad day where you put a screwdriver through a beautiful
> new polylaminate woofer (BTDT!) to eat up all of the savings
> that you achieved by buying from Gray's Market Goods.
> 
> Crutchfield does NOT suck, and they never have.

I agree.  You get what you pay for with Crutchfield.  You will pay a 
few percent more, and get superior service and VERY sharp people who 
can discuss the install, the parts, and handle most problems.  If 
you're very sharp with stereo and installation, you may not need 
this.  If you're just average, IMO, the money is well spent.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Al Powell                           Voice:  409/845-2807
107 Reed McDonald Bldg.             Fax:    409/862-1202
College Station, TX 77843           Email:  a-powell1@tamu.edu 
W3 page - http://agcomwww.tamu.edu/agcom/satellit/alpage.htm

Saunders' Slant: "If it's worth doing, it's worth hiring someone
 who knows how to do it."